Fighting against terrorism has become a common task of the
international community after the September 11 attacks, as the
world enters new era in the struggle, according to Chinese
officials and experts.
International cooperation is imperative in the fight against
terrorism, which -- like a plague -- can not only deprive many
innocent people of their lives, but also have an enormous impact on
the world's political and economic structures, said Li Baodong,
director-general of the International Department under the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
To
fight terrorism in China, the Ministry of Public Security has set
up an anti-terrorism bureau, he said. This is the first time that a
Chinese official confirmed the existence of such an
organization.
In
the week before the September 11 anniversary, a series of
anti-terrorism maneuvers were organized in Shanghai and Beijing,
according to reports.
"China is a victim of terrorism," Li said. "Collaborating with
al-Qaida and the Taliban, the Eastern Turkistan forces have created
lots of terroristic violence in the
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and in Central Asian regions,
seriously threatening the safety and security of the whole
area.
"International cooperation thus could play a pivotal role in the
anti-terrorism war," said Li in a written response to questions
from China Daily.
Turning Point
Meanwhile, others believe it is perhaps too early to declare that
the September 11 attacks will alter the political and economic
structure of the world. Li Wei, director of the Center for
Counter-Terrorism Studies under the China Institute of Contemporary
International Relations, shared this view during an exclusive
interview.
"The September 11 event is regarded as a turning point in the
international anti-terrorism campaign," said Li Wei. "An
international coalition has taken shape, pushing the anti-terrorism
campaign to an unprecedented level."
Up
to now, 122 countries have showed their support for the US campaign
against the terrorists led by the formerly Afghanistan-based
al-Qaida, he noted.
But the coalition that has emerged since the attacks is still
rather loose and immature, he said. "It will take more time to form
a formal anti-terrorism mechanism led by the United Nations (UN),"
Li Wei said.
What's more, comprehensive management measures should be taken to
eradicate the fundamental reasons for terrorism which lie in
poverty, the wide gap between the rich and the poor as well as
unfairness in international relations, he added.
Commenting on the news that the US Government has listed the
Eastern Turkistan activists as a terrorist organization, Li Wei
said the activities of such organizations conform to the terrorism
standard set by US laws and that they threaten US national
security.
Further legislative procedures are needed in the United States
before it can take action against such terrorist organizations, he
added.
With the acceleration of globalization and the development of high
technology, transnational terrorism activities not only threaten
the interests of one or two countries, but many members of the
international community, he explained.
After the September 11 attacks, the Chinese Government strengthened
cooperation with other countries in the fight against terrorism and
won high praise from the international community, said Li Baodong,
a Foreign Ministry official.
China's national leaders have repeatedly elaborated China's stance
towards international terrorism.
As
a UN Security Council member, China has taken an active part in
promoting multilateral anti-terrorism cooperation under UN
leadership, Li Baodong added.
For example, China has participated in 10 and approved another of
the 12 international anti-terrorism conventions.
In
addition, China has taken an active part in regional anti-terrorism
cooperation, Li Baodong said. An anti-terrorism statement signed by
the APEC leaders late last year, the first such document, played an
important role after the September 11 events.
And mid- and long-term exchange and cooperation mechanisms for
anti-terrorism were established between China and the United
States. A high-level panel for anti-terrorism was set up by China
and Russia as well.
Meanwhile, the researcher Li Wei argued that China should draft
specific laws as soon as possible to give a clear definition of
terrorism so as to effectively fight against such activities.
(China
Daily September 11, 2002)