An official with the Ministry of Public Security said Friday that the inclusion of the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) on a United Nation's list of terror groups has provided an important international legal basis for China's actions against this terrorist force.
The UN decision is favorable for China to fight against the group, said the spokesman.
The UN Security Council formally added ETIM to the UN list of terror groups and individuals on September 11.
China, the United States, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan had earlier made the request and submitted relevant materials to the UN Security Council.
The Eastern Turkistan force has been a major focus of China's anti-terrorism efforts. Resorting to violent terrorist actions to separate the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from China, its activities have been described by China as "a major threat to world peace and regional security as well as seriously damaging China's national security and social stability."
"The decision (of the UN Security Council) conforms with the request of the different ethnic groups in China and is a reflection of the common will of peace-loving people from various countries of opposing terrorism," the official said.
Evidence has shown that the Eastern Turkistan force has received support from Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida group in terms of finance, weapons, materials and training. Its members are believed to have joined the Taliban or al-Qaida, or have been involved in terrorist activities in Chechnya and Central Asia.
The official said China will further disclose the true terrorist nature of the Eastern Turkistan force, enhance its current crackdown and work with countries concerned to fight it.
He welcomed the US decision to list ETIM as a terror group and freeze their assets in the United States, saying it will move China-US anti-terrorism cooperation forward.
China has already forged anti-terrorism partnerships with Russia and Central Asian countries through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
China will further strengthen cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the European Union and Middle East countries in this regard, said the official.
China has enhanced its efforts to counter terrorism since the attacks on the United States on September 11 last year.
A special section has been set up under the Ministry of Public Security to research, plan, guide and coordinate the country's anti-terrorism efforts. Local anti-terrorism forces, particularly those in major cities, have also added to the momentum.
Plans to prevent and react to terrorist incidents have been drafted and a command system to deal with emergencies and the quick-response mechanism have been set up at both national and local level, according to the official.
But he also stressed the role of the public in anti-terrorism efforts, saying that only through active cooperation with the public security departments can terrorists be completely eradicated.
(China Daily September 21, 2002)
