Practical for China and the EU to co-work in fighting terrorism

Broken windows seen at the scene of explosions at Zaventem airport near Brussels, Belgium, March 22, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

SO FAR, the terrorist attacks in Brussels on Tuesday have caused 34 deaths and injured over 280 people. Together with the attacks in Paris on Nov 13, 2015, it shows terrorism poses a grave challenge to the European Union, which might alter its domestic and foreign policy, says an editorial by thepaper.cn:

The Brussels attacks happened just kilometers away from the EU parliament. The message is clear: The whole European continent can be under attack and the European Union faces severe security challenges. That might in turn prompt the EU to adjust its policies to better cope with them.

The European integration process might be revaluated. European governments are strengthening border controls after the attacks.

And doors are being shut to the flows of refugees, or at least they are not open as wide as they were earlier. Political correctness will no longer be an excuse for letting in refugees that pose a threat.

For China, the EU is a major global partner and there are various economic and social interactions, China will never be an outsider to Europe's adjustment of policies regarding public security.

More importantly, as the threat of terrorism becomes increasingly global, China and the EU need to work together to fight this common enemy.

It will be a practical choice for China and the EU to strengthen cooperation on anti-terrorism. No one can be absolutely safe in a world threatened by terrorists, and we have to unite to eradicate the threat.