Why are Russia and china against intervention in Syria?

I can only speak for Russia (it's one of my special interest modules at uni), but in basic terms, Russia continues to support Assad for 3 broad reasons:
- Money - Russia owns an important naval base in Syria, as many of the other posters have alluded to, and the arms trade between Russia and Syria is very profitable
- Their Own Interests - Aside from financial benefits, Assad represents Russia's last ally in a very geo-strategically important region, and Russia also continues to advocate opposition to US imposition upon Middle Eastern states (see Putin's speech at the International Security Conference in 2007, described by Senator John McCain as the most vicious speech by a Russian leader since the Cold War)
- Finally, Fear - Russia, as exhibited by their prominent cooperative role with the US in the War on Terror, has a pronounced fear of the spread of radical Islam, as well as fear of revolution in general following the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, for instance

Please complete your uncompleted post!


Posted from TSR Mobile

Sorry?

Oh sorry... At first read, it seemed like there was more content to come after "for instance..." My bad!


Posted from TSR Mobile

For 3 years Russia and China have caused gridlock in the international system yet there have been human rights violations in Syria. They could at least abstain but no they are playing awkward. Completely agree about the real motives

Want to see them both round the negotiating table at this proposed Conference

I can only speak for Russia (it's one of my special interest modules at uni), but in basic terms, Russia continues to support Assad for 3 broad reasons:
- Money - Russia owns an important naval base in Syria, as many of the other posters have alluded to, and the arms trade between Russia and Syria is very profitable.
- Their Own Interests - Aside from financial benefits, Assad represents Russia's last ally in a very geo-strategically important region, and Russia also continues to advocate opposition to US imposition upon Middle Eastern states (see Putin's speech at the International Security Conference in 2007, described by Senator John McCain as the most vicious speech by a Russian leader since the Cold War).
- Finally, Fear - Russia, as exhibited by their prominent cooperative role with the US in the War on Terror, has a pronounced fear of the spread of radical Islam, as well as fear of revolution in general following the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, for instance.

The issue in Chechnya and the surrounding area probably adds to that...

The issue in Chechnya and the surrounding area probably adds to that...

I highly doubt it. It was Russia who installed Ramzan Kadyrov's exceptionally crude and brutal Islamist terrorist regime with links to international terrorism in charge of Chechnya.

Yes they installed a regime just to go and fight them in the mountains, have them by proxy slaughter a theatre and demolish a load of apartment buildings, very good logic right there.

You obviously don't have even the vaguest idea what you are talking about (as usual). I will say again, Ramzan Kadyrov (who was installed by Russia, that is not controvertial), has introduced an exceptionally crude and brutal Islamic regime in the country. To give you a taste, he was reported as justifying the murder of seven young Chechen women in honour killings on the grounds that they had ‘loose morals’ and deserved to die, and encourages polygamy.

On topic, Russia's current policy vis-a-vis Syria has more to do with protecting its interests in the region. Syria has been a pro-Russian regime since the 1970s. It has literally nothing to do with Chechnya, or the fear of Islamic extremism. The fact that Russia is closely tied to Iran is proof of that.

And i think you'll find Russia isnt that cuddly with Iran these days and it couldnt give a **** who is in control of Syria so long as they keep their strategic influence in the area, as has been mentioned time and again, i think its time you got some glasses..dont you? So long as who ever controls the country lets them keep their port theyll do as they please and as that is Assad and he is paying a tidy sum to Russians and their arms companies for state of the art weapons its the regime, if the rebels gave a pinky swear to the russians they could have their base and started buying lots of fun things that go bang i'd bet you £5 theyd stop supporting Assad in a heart beat. In the mean time good on them for keeping the terrorists and the idiots in the west out of Syria.

Where is our disagreement then?

im not entirely sure you're the one who disagreed with my original post in the first place so please do humour me