China issues white paper on anti-terrorism, human rights protection in Xinjiang

Xinhua
Updated: March 18, 2019
The scenery of southern Xinjiang on Sept 27, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

BEIJING -- The State Council Information Office on Monday issued a white paper on the fight against terrorism and extremism and human rights protection in Xinjiang.

The Chinese government stands firmly against all forms of terrorism and extremism, and is relentless in striking hard, in accordance with the law, at any conduct advocating terrorism and extremism and any action that involves organizing, planning and carrying out terrorist activities, or infringing upon citizens' human rights, said the white paper, titled "The Fight Against Terrorism and Extremism and Human Rights Protection in Xinjiang."

For some time China's Xinjiang, under the combined influence of separatists, religious extremists and terrorists, has seen frequent incidents of terrorist attacks, which have been detrimental to the life and property of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang and have trampled on people's dignity, it said.

A country under the rule of law, China respects and protects human rights in accordance with the principles of its Constitution, said the document.

China's fight against terrorism and extremism is an important part of the same battle being waged by the international community, the white paper said, adding that it is in keeping with the purposes and principles of the United Nations to combat terrorism and safeguard basic human rights.

In today's world, faced with the severe challenges of terrorism and extremism, no country can shy away from them, it said.

"Only by strengthening our community of shared future, abandoning double standards, enhancing political mutual trust, reaching strategic consensus, and promoting exchanges and cooperation, can we effectively curb and combat terrorism and extremism in the interests of world peace and stability," the white paper said.

Besides a foreword and a conclusion, the white paper consisted of seven main sections: "Xinjiang Has Long Been an Inseparable Part of Chinese Territory," "The Origin of Terrorism and Extremism in Xinjiang," "Violent Terrorism and Religious Extremism Are Grave Abuses of Human Rights," "Striking at Terrorism and Extremism in Accordance with the Law," "Giving Top Priority to a Preventive Counterterrorism Approach," "Finding Experience for Counterterrorism and De-radicalization," and "International Counterterrorism Exchanges and Cooperation."

China gives priority to preventive counterterrorism approach: White paper

China has been giving top priority to a preventive counterterrorism approach, said a white paper released Monday by China's State Council Information Office.

Terrorism and extremism jeopardize human rights and sustainable development as they propagate intolerance between different religions, cultures and societies, challenge human justice and dignity, and do great harm to peace and security, said the white paper, titled "The Fight Against Terrorism and Extremism and Human Rights Protection in Xinjiang."

Based on experience learned from the international community, China has been active in implementing the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly concerning the United Nations Global Counterterrorism Strategy (60/288), and has been working hard to wipe out the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism and to prevent and combat terrorism, said the white paper.

Based on its own conditions, Xinjiang has been making intensive counterterrorism and de-radicalization efforts. Upholding the principle of fighting and preventing terrorism at the same time, the region has been taking aggressive action against violent terrorist crimes, and at the same time, addressing the problem at its source, the document said.

It has been making every effort to protect the fundamental human rights of citizens from violation by terrorism and extremism. Specific measures include improving public wellbeing, promoting knowledge of the law through education, and offering education and aid through vocational education and training centers in accordance with the law.

The white paper said Xinjiang has been actively providing help and aid through education.

Education and training centers have been established with the goal of educating and rehabilitating people guilty of minor crimes or law-breaking and eradicating the influence of terrorism and extremism, in order to prevent them from falling victim to terrorism and extremism, and to nip terrorist activities in the bud, it said.

Education and training centers are institutions established in accordance with the law, the white paper said.

Thanks to these preventive measures, Xinjiang has witnessed a marked change in the social environment in recent years and people have a much stronger sense of fulfillment, happiness and security, it added.

China strikes at terrorism, extremism in accordance with law: White paper

China has been striking at terrorism and extremism in accordance with the law, said a white paper released Monday by China's State Council Information Office.

It is important to stick to the principles of rule of law and a law-based approach in combatting terrorism and extremism in Xinjiang, said the white paper, titled "The Fight Against Terrorism and Extremism and Human Rights Protection in Xinjiang."

The situation is severe and complex; members of all ethnic groups are insistent in their demands that violent and terrorist crimes be punished, and that their lives and property be protected. Therefore, in accordance with the law, the local government strikes at all sorts of violent and terrorist activities that violate human rights, endanger public security, undermine ethnic unity, and split the country, according to the document.

Counterterrorism and de-radicalization in Xinjiang has always been conducted in accordance with the law, the white paper said.

The local government upholds the principles of protecting lawful activities, curbing illegal actions, containing extremism, resisting infiltration, and preventing and punishing crimes. The local government fully respects and safeguards civil rights including freedom of religious belief. It protects lawful religious activities, fulfills the reasonable religious demands of believers, protects the legitimate rights and interests of citizens and organizations, strikes severely at all forms of terrorism, and forbids violations of the law and crimes such as spreading extremism, inciting ethnic hatred, and dividing the country by means of religion.

Since 2014, Xinjiang has destroyed 1,588 violent and terrorist gangs, arrested 12,995 terrorists, seized 2,052 explosive devices, punished 30,645 people for 4,858 illegal religious activities, and confiscated 345,229 copies of illegal religious materials, said the white paper.

With facts as the basis and the law as the criterion, judicial organs in Xinjiang adopt a policy that strikes the right balance between compassion and severity.

While they make sure real criminals are punished, judicial organs in Xinjiang protect the defendants' right to defense and the right to use their own language in litigation to guarantee procedural justice and protect basic civil rights.

Law-based de-radicalization has been launched in Xinjiang, which has effectively curbed the breeding and spread of religious extremism, according to the white paper.

The law-based de-radicalization effort and the fight against terrorism are a just cause that has met the expectations for safety of people from all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, the white paper said. "Through such effort, we have maintained social harmony and stability," it said.

Terrorism, extremism bring enormous suffering to all ethnic groups in Xinjiang: White paper

Terrorism and extremism in Xinjiang have brought enormous suffering to all ethnic groups in the region, said a white paper released Monday by China's State Council Information Office.

Terrorist and extremist forces in Xinjiang, driven by the goal of separatism, engaged in wildly sabotaging activities, said the white paper, titled "The Fight Against Terrorism and Extremism and Human Rights Protection in Xinjiang."

"This badly undermines local stability," it said.

Incomplete statistics show that from 1990 to the end of 2016, separatist, terrorist and extremist forces launched thousands of terrorist attacks in Xinjiang, killing large numbers of innocent people and hundreds of police officers, and causing immeasurable damage to property.

The white paper said the forces were engaged in killing ordinary people, assassinating religious leaders, endangering public security, attacking government organs, and planning riots.

"These inhuman, anti-social and barbaric acts have brought enormous suffering to all ethnic groups in Xinjiang," it said.

China slams terrorist, extremist forces for beating drum for separatist activities: White paper

A white paper released Monday by China's State Council Information Office has slammed terrorist and extremist forces for beating the drum for separatist activities in Xinjiang.

Separatism is the hotbed in which terrorism and extremism take root in Xinjiang, said the white paper, titled "The Fight Against Terrorism and Extremism and Human Rights Protection in Xinjiang."

For a long time, terrorist and extremist forces have been beating the drum for separatist activities by distorting, fabricating and falsifying the history of Xinjiang, exaggerating the cultural differences between ethnic groups, instigating isolation and hatred, and advocating religious extremism, it said.

The white paper said that since the founding of the People's Republic of China, people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, worked together to build a better Xinjiang; they have maintained social stability, achieved economic growth and improved lives for the people.

The "East Turkistan" forces, however, have not resigned themselves to defeat. With the support of international anti-China forces, the "East Turkistan" forces have resorted to all means, fair or foul, to organize, plan and carry out acts of separatism and sabotage.

Since the 1990s, especially after the September 11 attacks in the United States, the "East Turkistan" forces inside and outside China have stepped up their collaboration as terrorism and extremism spread around the globe, trying desperately to establish "East Turkistan" through "Jihad" (holy war), the white paper said.

The white paper also noted that religious extremism under the banner of Islam runs counter to Islamic doctrines. "It is not Islam," the white paper said.

China active in int'l counterterrorism exchanges, cooperation: White paper

China has been active in international exchanges and cooperation in counterterrorism, said a white paper released Monday by China's State Council Information Office.

Throughout the world, terrorism and extremism gravely threaten peace and development, and endanger the life and property of individuals, said the white paper, titled "The Fight Against Terrorism and Extremism and Human Rights Protection in Xinjiang."

"Striking aggressively at terrorism and furthering the de-radicalization effort is the common responsibility of the international community and essential to the protection of human rights," it said.

China opposes all forms of terrorism and extremism, and opposes double standards on fighting terrorism, said the white paper, adding that it opposes linking terrorism and extremism with specific countries, ethnic groups or religions.

China advocates comprehensive measures to address both the symptoms and the root causes, with the dual purposes of striking at terrorist activities and eliminating poverty, so that there will be no room for terrorism to breed, it said.

China supports more pragmatic international cooperation in the fight against terrorism on the basis of mutual respect and consultation on an equal footing, it added.

"As a responsible member of the international community, China supports the United Nations in playing a leading and coordinating role in international cooperation against terrorism," said the white paper.

China upholds the UN Charter and other principles and norms of international law, and has supported a series of resolutions on combating terrorism adopted by the UN Security Council and contributed to the full implementation of the UN Global Counterterrorism Strategy, it said.

China has joined most of the international counterterrorism conventions, and under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), China and countries involved have signed several documents in this field, it added.

The white paper noted that China has carried out a number of fruitful counterterrorism exchanges and cooperation with relevant countries through such bilateral and multilateral mechanisms as joint anti-terrorism exercises, joint border defense operations, and suppression of illegal cyberspace activities by terrorist, separatist and extremist forces, as well as security cooperation, intelligence exchange, and judicial cooperation during major international events.

"It has played an important role in maintaining international and regional security and stability," it said.

Noting that Xinjiang is a key battlefield in the fight against terrorism in China, the white paper said in recent years, under the care and support of the central government, Xinjiang has carried out pragmatic exchanges and cooperation with neighboring countries in areas including intelligence, joint border control and the investigation and capture of suspected terrorists.

Drawing experience from global efforts, Xinjiang has contributed to the international fight on terrorism through effective counterterrorism and de-radicalization campaigns based on its regional realities, it said.

China finds experience for counterterrorism, de-radicalization: White paper

China has found experience for counterterrorism and de-radicalization, said a white paper released Monday by China's State Council Information Office.

Counterterrorism and de-radicalization effort in Xinjiang is based on the reality of the region and the rest of the country, while drawing on the experience of other countries, said the white paper, titled "The Fight Against Terrorism and Extremism and Human Rights Protection in Xinjiang."

The Chinese government prioritizes safeguarding the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups, it said.

Starting by addressing deep-seated problems, China has worked to explore effective and law-based approaches to counterterrorism and de-radicalization to protect people of all ethnic groups from the scourge of terrorism and extremism, and identified successful experiences and effective measures, it added.

The white paper said that experiences in this regard included combating terrorism in accordance with the law and protecting human rights, upholding the practice that counterterrorism does not target any specific region, ethnic group or religion, balancing compassion and severity and taking measures for prevention, education and rehabilitation, and maintaining stability and improving the standards of living.

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