The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) announced that China will join efforts by other nations including the United States, Russia and the EU to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons. Under the terms of a UN agreement, Syria is required to turn over its complete stockpile of deadly toxins that have been used to create weaponized chemicals such as sarin and VX gas. All chemicals, according to the agreement’s timeline, are to be destroyed by June 30, 2014.

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According to sources, China will send a military ship which will be used to guard the US ship MV Cape Ray. The MV Cape Ray is currently being outfitted with special equipment that will be used to render the chemicals into inert and non-dangerous material

Chinese involvement will consist of three parts. First, Chinese and US naval ships will collaborate in providing GPS location and surveillance camera support for Russian personnel tasked with transporting the chemical weapons from 12 storage sites in Syria to the Mediterranean seaport of Latakia where the chemical will be transferred to Dutch and Norwegian ships. Second, the Chinese ship will escort the Dutch and Norwegian ships as the chemical weapons are transported to the MV Cape Ray. Currently, no location has been set for where Cape Ray will be stationed. Finally, the Chinese ship will provide security as the chemicals are destroyed aboard the Cape Ray.

The decision to destroy the weapons aboard the Cape Ray was made because it would be too dangerous to transport the chemicals to another country and, more importantly, no other country has agreed to allow the chemicals onto its territory.

According to Chen Kai, secretary general of the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, this will be the first time that the Chinese navy has provided escort and support services for chemical weapons and the first time that they have operated in the Mediterranean Sea. However, Chinese naval ships have providing protection for ships in the against Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean. China will use that experience to help dismiss any challenges it faces in its mission to help destroy the chemical weapons.

China sees its efforts at not only ridding the world of the deadly menace of toxins but also as a positive step in the eventual peaceful resolution of the Syrian conflict and broader peace and stability in the region.