Murder of hostages steels will to fight IS

President Xi Jinping addresses the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit. [Photo by Li Xueren/Xinhua]

The murder of a Chinese national, along with a Norwegian citizen, by the Islamic State group is the latest atrocity committed by the terrorists. It should be condemned by all and further strengthen the shared will to eliminate terrorism.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Manila on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his deep sympathy to the victim's family, pledging that China will resolutely crack down on any terrorist crime that challenges the bottom line of human civilization.

Taking hostages and seeking ransoms from their governments are a means of financing for the extremists. When their demands are not met, they count on the open display of violence in killing the hostages to draw more support from other extremists around the world and also create horror and panic among others.

But these ulterior intentions are doomed to failure as the crimes only lay bare the inhuman nature of the extremists and further consolidate the determination of peace-loving people to fight international terrorism and bring the perpetrators to justice.

With the brutal killing of the Chinese and Norwegian hostages, the bombing of the Russian plane over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on Oct 31, the suicide bombing in Beirut on Nov 11, and Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris, the IS group has increased the bloody debt it owes the world.

The international community needs to rally more closely around the anti-terror campaign and deal the IS a deadly blow as soon as possible.

Efforts to this end are already being made. At both the G20 summit in Antalya, Turkey, and the APEC meeting in Manila, world leaders have agreed to strengthen their collaboration in the fight against terrorism.

The G20 leaders have vowed to tighten border controls, increase their intelligence sharing and crack down on terrorist financing.

In Manila, the leaders of the Pacific-Rim economies have strongly condemned all acts of terror and stressed the urgent need for increased international cooperation and solidarity in the fight against not only the IS but also other terrorist groups.

However, this admirable political will must be translated into well-coordinated actions that aim to eliminate both terrorism and its breeding ground, so that this common enemy can be defeated as soon as possible.