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

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.