Terrorist arrests just tip of the iceberg

• Source: Global Times
• [21:46 June 30 2010]
• Comments

Li Wei

Editor's Note:

On June 24, the Ministry of Public Security announced the uncovering of a large terrorist organization and the capture of 10 top leaders. A series of anti-terrorism campaigns throughout the country in the last few weeks indicated the central government's determination to disrupt terrorist plots and dismantle terrorist networks. Global Times (GT) reporter Wu Meng talked to Li Wei (Li), director of Center for Counter-Terrorism Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, on the anti-terrorism activities in China and the threats China is facing.

GT: Is there a connection between the recently-destroyed terrorist organization and groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan? What is the main base of terrorist organizations in China?

Li: In terms of the terrorist group that was crushed recently in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the case wasn't directly connected to the recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, the group itself was probably backed up by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM).

The main base of terrorist organizations is in Xinjiang, which has the largest Muslim population in China. However, they are spreading fast now through to Henan, Guangdong and Yunan provinces. This is their strategy to promote their influence in China, but their main targets and bases is still in Xinjiang, because they can use religion to attract followers there.

GT: What is the main background of ETIM? Who is funding it?

Li: ETIM is one of the Eastern Turkestan terrorist groups that are active in the Middle East. It was established in the 1970s and its main leaders and followers were separatists in China who left the country to join underground groups. Their first leader was Hasan Mahsum, who was shot dead by Pakistani troops on October 2, 2003 in a joint anti-terror operation along the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He established several terrorist groups in the Middle East and ETIM was the most influential one.

Before the 9/11 attack, the main training base of ETIM was in Afghanistan. After the US went to war there, they had to move to Pakistan. The last leader was Memetiming Memeti, also known as Abdul Haq. He was killed in March this year. We have seen various reports on the new leader of ETIM, but none of them have been confirmed.

The ETIM gets financial support from three sources. The first is from various terrorist groups in Pakistan that have more worldwide influence and are financially better-off, such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

Another source is from Eastern Turkestan terrorist groups in other countries that have more financial strength. They are willing to offer financial help because they all pursue the same political goal of creating an independent Islamic state in the so-called East Turkestan, which currently is Xinjiang. They have close contacts with each other.

Finally, ETIM receives support either from sympathetic locals, or through threatening local businesses for protection money.

GT: What are the most likely targets in China for terrorist attacks? How can the Chinese government combat them?

Li: Judging from the current situation, the main target is Xinjiang. In Xinjiang, there are two main targets. The primary one is the government organizations and military bases in Xinjiang. They are big, obvious, and easy to find.

If those sites are well-prepared and well-protected, terrorists may turn to the ordinary people. They are vulnerable and don't take much effort. And terrorists know that any attack on the innocent people will cause a big reaction from the authorities and a ripple effect in society.

Since 2008, ETIM has been using the Internet to expand its influence. They have threatened online to attack big cities in China such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, which made the local authorities more cautious. However, I don't think they have the power and ability to initiate that big an attack in those cities. They know Xinjiang best and that is the most likely and vulnerable area for attacks.