China responds over Turkish Military operations in Syria
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BEIJING - China said on Thursday that Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity "must be respected" after Turkish forces launched a military operation into Kurdish-controlled areas in the country's northeast.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed on Wednesday a bombardment on the region that sent thousands of civilians fleeing their homes.
The assault followed US President Donald Trump's announcement of a military pullback from the Turkey-Syria border — a decision that prompted fury from US lawmakers, who warned withdrawing US troops could reverse gains against the militant Islamic State group.
Erdogan links the Kurdish fighters to separatist militants at home and brands them "terrorists," with US troops effectively serving as a buffer in the region before the announcement of their withdrawal.