China voices 'zero tolerance' against terrorism

Police officers patrol a public square near the Zhengzhou Railway Station in Henan province in January. [Photo by Xiang Minghao/China Daily]

UNITED NATIONS - A Chinese envoy said here Wednesday that China maintains a "zero-tolerance" stance against terrorism and called for international counter-terrorism cooperation under the guidance of the international law and the United Nations.

Wang Min, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, made the remarks at a meeting of the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly on measures to eliminate international terrorism.

"Now, the international community is facing a comeback of terrorism," he said. "We firmly support lawful, harsh measures to crack down on criminal terrorist activities and firmly support the international community in its effort to eliminate terrorism."

Wang noted "the terrorist forces of the so-called 'East Turkistan' as represented by 'Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement ( ETIM)' constitute a direct and real terrorist threat to China," adding that China is stepping up efforts to formulate a counter- terrorism law for effective collaboration with the international community.

Citing counter-terrorism mechanisms China has been a part, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Global Counter-terrorism Forum, Wang said China will actively participate in and push for bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation activities.

With regard to international counter-terrorism cooperation, Wang highlighted the international law, saying operations to crack down terrorism should be carried out in conformity of the purposes and principles of the UN charter and led by the United Nations and the UN Security Council.

"Only by so doing can we maintain solidarity, have effective coordination and take concerted action," he said.

Wang also urged the international community to improve integrated policy implementation, such as cracking down on the use of the Internet by terrorist organizations, increasing the gathering and sharing of information, and severing corridors of movement for terrorists.

"Countries should take multi-pronged measures in the political, security, economic, financial and information fields, in particular through eradicating poverty, improving people's livelihood and promoting their development, so as to remove the breeding ground of terrorism," he said.