Topic: Situation in the Middle East
Country: China
Delegate Name: Elvira Kate Kovachevich
School: Forest Hills Central High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All China position papers GLIMUN 2015 committees
Threat of terrorist attacks from Al Qaeda sent the international community in a surge of shock and panic, but above all, released a fervour in an attempts to eliminate any threat to any country. The United States asserted responsibility and captured, killed, and disposed of Osama bin Laden, the “mastermind” behind the 9/11 attacks; unfortunately, they did not take care of the group itself, who returned with more strength than ever. Now, years later, a group, the Islamic State, poses a threat to the entire globe. Contrary to how the media portrays the group, they have been around for years. The group, who assumed the name ISIS, formed from an alliance between Al Qaeda in Iraq and Al Qaeda in 2011 when tensions arose over which group should decide how to bring about the caliphate. Al Qaeda in Iraq was a result of the leader of Jama’at al-Tawhid wal-jihad (est. 2004) by Salafi-jihadi Jordanian Abu Mus’ab Al-Zarqaw pledging his allegiance to Osama bin Laden. The current leader, Abu Kakr al-Baghadi, took about leadership in 2010. Two years after the alliance between Al Qaeda in Iraq and Al Qaeda was formed, Al Qaeda in Iraq became more confident about its military presence in Syria and announced a merger with Syrian Salafi-jihadi organization Jabhat al-Nursa (which was when the name ISIS was first asserted).
The ideological roots of ISIS follow a Salafi-jihadi ideology which is best advocated by Al Qaeda. This underscores the return of the authentic beliefs and practices of the al-salaf al-salih (pious ancestors) who compromised the companions of the Prophet Muhammad as well as asserting a belief in Tawhid, (three categories of the unity of God).
Once the two jihadist groups formed ISIS, that led to imposing its authority on contiguous territories stradling both Syria and Iraq and on geo-strategic areas in Iraq’s al-Anbar and Ninawa provinces. This transitioned into a campaign for a transnational state. Moreover, once ISIS gained control of the majority of Iraqi and Syrian territories, it declared the establishment of the caliphate and changed its name to the Islamic State. This was proclaimed by al-Baghadi Caliph Ibrahim in the “Promise of Allah” as a justification for the Caliphate. The “Promise of Allah” called upon Islamist organizations and Muslims to pledge their allegiance to Caliph Ibrahim as well as support him. al-Baghadi sent a message to the Muslim Ummah, similar to bin Laden’s 9/11 attack speech, split the world into two facets: believers of the Prophet Muhammad and hypocrites. Meant to cast an aura of legitimacy over his caliphate, al Baghadi called on Muslims to “support the religion of Allah through jihad and in the path of Allah” and emigrate to the Islamic State.
Although the terrorist organization claims to be abusing human rights in the name of Allah, they are misconstruing Islam. In this way, they have taken advantage of the unrest in Syria during its civil war and have become an international security threat that has to be abolished. China opposes all forms of terrorism; we are willing to abandon our non-intervention policy and cooperate with other key players such as the United States through intelligence sharing. The Islamic State has openly declared a Chinese territorial acquisition ambition. Their expansion in the Middle East could threaten China’s oil investments as well as encourage domestic terrorist groups (like the East Turkestan Independence Movement) in rising up even more so against the government. As China's foreign minister Wang Yi said at the UN Security Council session in New York, “the world cannot afford to stand by and look on with folded arms, but must also not arbitrarily interfere.” Furthermore, nations should stand in solidarity against global terrorist groups. Therefore, China has shown willingness to militarily join Russia in fighting the Islamic State. This group must be annihilated- a passive response has not shown to do well. Therefore, China is willing to work with the United States and Russia in preserving international stability.
