Few people would associate China and its people with the so-called Islamic State (IS). However, one Chinese national has allegedly entered Syria to fight alongside the Kurdish militia group.

One of the largest groups fighting against the IS is the Population Protection Units (YPG). It is an important partner of the US-led international coalition against the IS. The group has already steered the militants away from several Syrian borders with the aid of coalition airstrikes.

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Ba Si Pan is the first Chinese to join the fight against IS in Syria alongside the YPG. He won't reveal his full name but claims that Ba Si is his name in Kurdish.

According to the 25-year-old, he has already fought on the frontline in Kobane twice.

When BBC UK spoke to him over the phone, he sounded calm and composed despite not speaking any English or Arabic. He revealed that he communicates with fellow fighters using an electronic dictionary.

The main reason that Pan joined YPG is to help combat a common enemy of humanity.

"IS has taken so many innocent lives", he said. He feels that he needs to help defeat them.

He added that IS has trained many Chinese people and then sent them back to China; although this could not be entirely verified yet.

Members of the ethnic Uighurs group in exile have denied this claim. Chinese authorities believe that some ethnic Uigurs, who fought with IS in Syria and Iraq, have returned to China to plot out terrorism attacks in the country.

The interview also revealed that Pan didn't have any stable job and recently broken up with his girlfriend. More so, he said he took civilian military training in Sichuan in 2012.

According to his flight records as seen by BBC, he took a flight going to Istanbul on September 24 and was able to enter Syria via Turkey in October.

More than 400 foreign fighters compose the YPG which describes itself as a multi-ethnic and multi-national institution.

However, Pan is not the first Chinese to fight alongside YPG. In fact, he was inspired by Huang Lei, a British Chinese volunteer who became an online celebrity back in May.

"I had actually thought he is still here in Kobane, but when I arrived in Kobane I was told he's already back in the UK," Pan said.

Already, Pan has gained fans calling him a hero, however, others cannot help but be concerned for his safety.

However, Mr Pan sounds undeterred. "Now that I'm here, I don't worry," he said, "I will simply do my best to protect myself."

TagsKurdish militia group, Population Protection Units, Chinese National Joins YPG, Ba Si Pan, ISIL, BBC, international coalition against the IS