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How Tough is Chinas Mission to Fight Terrorism
Posted on 23 March 2010
Mar.23 (written by By Zhu Chenghu and released by China Military Power Mashup) Eight years ago, then U.S. President George W. Bush, while delivering a televised speech at Congress, solemnly announced: Our war on terror begins with al-Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated. Since then, the global war on terror dominated by the United States has started and led to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that are yet to end, as well as the extensive readjustment of international relations worldwide.
Eight years have passed. The international counter-terrorism situation today is less optimistic and has run into even greater trouble. Although countries have intensified the anti-terror efforts, terrorism has nevertheless tended to become increasingly more violent. How can such things happen? One of the most important reasons is countries are divided over a standard to define terrorism.
The international community has put forward no less than 100 definitions of terrorism, but none has been accepted by all countries as a universally recognized standard. International communities have reservations about the U.S. global war on terror. Scholars in some countries believe that the United States has been pursuing self-interest in the name of global war on terror: expanding its overseas military bases, enlarging its sphere of influence, interfering in other countries internal affairs, rivaling for control of strategic resources.
There is no doubt some countries apparently have double standards on the definition of terrorism. In Russias Beslan school hostage crisis in 2004, a group of armed men and women burst into School Number One, took about 500 students, their parents and teachers hostage and herded them into the school gymnasium, subsequently killing many of them. Russia defined the crisis as a terrorist attack and dispatched Special Forces for rescue operations. But Western countries said that it had yet to be confirmed if the armed people were terrorists or not.
The hostage crisis is a prominent manifestation of confusion brought about by the divergences of standards on terrorism. Admittedly, various countries face threats of terrorism different in nature and degree. But an international anti-terror alliance can never be formed effectively if some countries bluntly and flagrantly interfere in others justified anti-terror campaigns in the guise of human rights on one hand but pursuing their own interest in the name of combating terrorism on the other. As a matter of fact, the great expectations of the global anti-terror cause can only be met when all countries proceed from an overall situation of international security, adhere to unanimous anti-terrorism standards and work together to cope with the threat of terrorism to humankind. Double standards on anti-terrorism provide a room for international terrorism to exist and develop.
In defining terrorism, two things should be taken into consideration. First, whether it is aimed at innocent civilians and second, whether violent actions are taken. According to these standards, we can see China is facing a very severe situation in the fight against terrorism.
China geopolitical environment is one of the most complicated among all big powers. At present, a major terrorist threat to China is the East Turkestan forces. In fact, as early as the start of the last century, separatist forces in Xinjiang had created unrest repeatedly at the instigation of and with the support of hostile foreign forces. After the peaceful liberation of Xinjiang, separatists who had fled abroad colluded with those who stayed and watched for their chance to conduct sabotage and other terrorist activities. Especially since 1990, under the influence of the three extreme forces of extremism, separatism and terrorism, the East Turkestan forces have turned to violence as their chief means of operation, and have masterminded and organized a series of violent, bloody incidents such as assassination, arson and attacks.
Some countries neighboring China contain terrorist groups, which also provide breeding grounds for terrorist forces on Chinese territory. In fact, the East Turkestan forces have won the support of Al-Qaeda. According to media reports, an arrested East Turkestan terrorist suspect confessed he had been sent to Afghanistan to be trained by al-Qaeda and he had personally seen Osama Bin Laden at close range. Instructors not only taught him how to use various kinds of light weapons, but also trained him to drive tanks.
These are all terrorist activities that have already constituted real threats to China. From the perspective of future development trends, China will likely face other threats, such as nuclear, biological, information and electromagnetic terrorism. Take attacks on energy resources as an example. As Chinas economy grows, the nation has become increasingly
reliant on energy imports. In order to ensure petrol and natural gas supplies, China has laid a very long oil pipeline from Kazakhstan to Xinjiang, in addition to the domestic West-East Gas Pipeline project. Therefore, ensuring the pipelines security has become a very real issue.
Obviously, China cannot be a land of peace amid widespread international terrorism. Against the present backdrop, many countries have readjusted security policies. In the past, anti-terrorism has mainly been the mission of national security departments; now, the United States, Britain, Russia, India and other countries have listed anti-terrorism as an important mission for their armed forces. China also attaches great importance to military participation in anti-terrorism operations. So far, China has launched many joint anti-terror military exercises with Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and other countries.
We should say that the fight against terrorism in a big country with 1.3 billion population is in itself a major contribution to world peace. Chinas experiences in fighting terrorism can also exert a favorable influence and display a demonstrative effect for other countries, especially developing countries. Then, what else can we do while facing a situation of such complicated terrorist activities?
Since terrorism is an international cancer, international cooperation must be beefed up to deal with the threat. China has carried out anti-terrorism cooperation with the United States and other countries, and it is likely to explore the possibility of cooperation with more countries in the future as the situation develops.
Domestically, the top priority is strengthening anti-terrorism legislation and including anti-terrorism action in law. The anti-terror mechanism should be improved on and emergency plans be mapped out so as to enhance the efficiency of coping with terrorism threat and achieve better results. The building of anti-terrorism armed forces should be consolidated so as to improve actual combat capabilities of rapid response, rapid strike and rapid solution. In addition, China can involve the general public in anti-terror campaigns. Of course, we must get rid of the breeding grounds for terrorism if we are to fundamentally and completely eliminate the threat of terrorism from China.
Terrorism is the common enemy of every country and fighting terrorism is in the common interests of humankind. No place in the world is immune to terrorism, and China is no exception. In order to deal with terrorism, the international community need to show goodwill and sincerity, give up double standards, properly resolve their own issues and discover a way to deal with it on the basis of mutual cooperation.
Posted on 23 March 2010
Mar.23 (written by By Zhu Chenghu and released by China Military Power Mashup) Eight years ago, then U.S. President George W. Bush, while delivering a televised speech at Congress, solemnly announced: Our war on terror begins with al-Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated. Since then, the global war on terror dominated by the United States has started and led to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that are yet to end, as well as the extensive readjustment of international relations worldwide.
Eight years have passed. The international counter-terrorism situation today is less optimistic and has run into even greater trouble. Although countries have intensified the anti-terror efforts, terrorism has nevertheless tended to become increasingly more violent. How can such things happen? One of the most important reasons is countries are divided over a standard to define terrorism.
The international community has put forward no less than 100 definitions of terrorism, but none has been accepted by all countries as a universally recognized standard. International communities have reservations about the U.S. global war on terror. Scholars in some countries believe that the United States has been pursuing self-interest in the name of global war on terror: expanding its overseas military bases, enlarging its sphere of influence, interfering in other countries internal affairs, rivaling for control of strategic resources.
There is no doubt some countries apparently have double standards on the definition of terrorism. In Russias Beslan school hostage crisis in 2004, a group of armed men and women burst into School Number One, took about 500 students, their parents and teachers hostage and herded them into the school gymnasium, subsequently killing many of them. Russia defined the crisis as a terrorist attack and dispatched Special Forces for rescue operations. But Western countries said that it had yet to be confirmed if the armed people were terrorists or not.
The hostage crisis is a prominent manifestation of confusion brought about by the divergences of standards on terrorism. Admittedly, various countries face threats of terrorism different in nature and degree. But an international anti-terror alliance can never be formed effectively if some countries bluntly and flagrantly interfere in others justified anti-terror campaigns in the guise of human rights on one hand but pursuing their own interest in the name of combating terrorism on the other. As a matter of fact, the great expectations of the global anti-terror cause can only be met when all countries proceed from an overall situation of international security, adhere to unanimous anti-terrorism standards and work together to cope with the threat of terrorism to humankind. Double standards on anti-terrorism provide a room for international terrorism to exist and develop.
In defining terrorism, two things should be taken into consideration. First, whether it is aimed at innocent civilians and second, whether violent actions are taken. According to these standards, we can see China is facing a very severe situation in the fight against terrorism.
China geopolitical environment is one of the most complicated among all big powers. At present, a major terrorist threat to China is the East Turkestan forces. In fact, as early as the start of the last century, separatist forces in Xinjiang had created unrest repeatedly at the instigation of and with the support of hostile foreign forces. After the peaceful liberation of Xinjiang, separatists who had fled abroad colluded with those who stayed and watched for their chance to conduct sabotage and other terrorist activities. Especially since 1990, under the influence of the three extreme forces of extremism, separatism and terrorism, the East Turkestan forces have turned to violence as their chief means of operation, and have masterminded and organized a series of violent, bloody incidents such as assassination, arson and attacks.
Some countries neighboring China contain terrorist groups, which also provide breeding grounds for terrorist forces on Chinese territory. In fact, the East Turkestan forces have won the support of Al-Qaeda. According to media reports, an arrested East Turkestan terrorist suspect confessed he had been sent to Afghanistan to be trained by al-Qaeda and he had personally seen Osama Bin Laden at close range. Instructors not only taught him how to use various kinds of light weapons, but also trained him to drive tanks.
These are all terrorist activities that have already constituted real threats to China. From the perspective of future development trends, China will likely face other threats, such as nuclear, biological, information and electromagnetic terrorism. Take attacks on energy resources as an example. As Chinas economy grows, the nation has become increasingly
reliant on energy imports. In order to ensure petrol and natural gas supplies, China has laid a very long oil pipeline from Kazakhstan to Xinjiang, in addition to the domestic West-East Gas Pipeline project. Therefore, ensuring the pipelines security has become a very real issue.
Obviously, China cannot be a land of peace amid widespread international terrorism. Against the present backdrop, many countries have readjusted security policies. In the past, anti-terrorism has mainly been the mission of national security departments; now, the United States, Britain, Russia, India and other countries have listed anti-terrorism as an important mission for their armed forces. China also attaches great importance to military participation in anti-terrorism operations. So far, China has launched many joint anti-terror military exercises with Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and other countries.
We should say that the fight against terrorism in a big country with 1.3 billion population is in itself a major contribution to world peace. Chinas experiences in fighting terrorism can also exert a favorable influence and display a demonstrative effect for other countries, especially developing countries. Then, what else can we do while facing a situation of such complicated terrorist activities?
Since terrorism is an international cancer, international cooperation must be beefed up to deal with the threat. China has carried out anti-terrorism cooperation with the United States and other countries, and it is likely to explore the possibility of cooperation with more countries in the future as the situation develops.
Domestically, the top priority is strengthening anti-terrorism legislation and including anti-terrorism action in law. The anti-terror mechanism should be improved on and emergency plans be mapped out so as to enhance the efficiency of coping with terrorism threat and achieve better results. The building of anti-terrorism armed forces should be consolidated so as to improve actual combat capabilities of rapid response, rapid strike and rapid solution. In addition, China can involve the general public in anti-terror campaigns. Of course, we must get rid of the breeding grounds for terrorism if we are to fundamentally and completely eliminate the threat of terrorism from China.
Terrorism is the common enemy of every country and fighting terrorism is in the common interests of humankind. No place in the world is immune to terrorism, and China is no exception. In order to deal with terrorism, the international community need to show goodwill and sincerity, give up double standards, properly resolve their own issues and discover a way to deal with it on the basis of mutual cooperation.
