Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

The deadly violence in Kunming outraged the whole society and recalled the memory of the Xinjiang riot in July 2009. Stirring up public antagonism and causing frictions between Uyghur and Han is the precise goal of the terrorists. 

In recent years, Xinjiang terrorism has become more serious and spilled beyond the region. To the west, it has expanded into Central Asia and Afghanistan by unifying with local terrorist organizations and participating in the Syrian jihad. While to the east, the terrorists have masterminded attacks in the inland regions of China.

Xinjiang terrorism is not regional but has developed into an interactive international terrorism. The outflow of Xinjiang terrorism is closely associated with the current external environment of Xinjiang.

First of all, the rise of Islamism in Middle East politics and the widespread flow of religious extremism brainwashed minority youth with a perverted perception of the idea of jihad, making them cold-blooded murderers. Some terrorists and extremists even sneaked to the Middle East and volunteered to be jihadist fighters.

With the fierce changes of Middle East situation, religious extremism has reached a peak. Islamic fundamentalism and jihad are perceived as very attractive.

Then there is the wide enrollment of experienced extremists, including Xinjiang separatists, around the globe, who will be extremely destructive after they return to the homeland. 

Furthermore, the deterioration of Afghanistan and Pakistan situation has stimulated Xinjiang terrorism. The deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, the increasing power of religious extremists in Pakistan, in combination with Xinjiang's closeness to these countries, have all played a negative impact on the security environment of Xinjiang.

The frequent terrorist activities in Afghanistan and Pakistan also set an example for Xinjiang terrorist organizations, stimulating them to conduct violent attacks in Xinjiang.

The East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) is penetrating into Xinjiang and attempting to carry out a new series of terrorist activities. The main methods include investments of funds, weapons and human resources, establishing internal network for attack planning and holding illegal religious activities to incite people against the central government.

Besides, the increasing risk in Central Asia may become a conveyer belt to connect Xinjiang terrorism with religious extremism and terrorism in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Middle East. Currently, countries in Central Asia are facing more risks due to power transition, stagnant economy and social conflicts, while Xinjiang terrorist organizations normally employ Central Asia as a channel to flee from China to South Asia and the Middle East. 

Terrorism in Xinjiang is a significant part of international terrorism, which will threaten the security of the world. In recent years, we have paid too much attention to internal factors but ignored the external causes.

This terrorism has involved external powers since it occurred. Some countries even impose pressure on China to encourage and promote it, using the excuse of human rights and democracy.

In the current circumstance, external threats and internal problems are equally important over the issue of terrorism in Xinjiang which has been internationalized by external factors. However, the West holds a double standard on the issue, which is not helpful for effective anti-terrorism.

It is a good time now to seek an international consensus and make efforts to establish a favorable international environment for anti-terrorism. We need to urge Western countries to clarify their attitudes toward Xinjiang separatism and suppress the forces that support the World Uyghur Congress.

Furthermore, cooperation with Central Asian and other countries, for instance, Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan, should be strengthened in order to restrain groups such as ETIM and crack down on terrorism.  

The author is an associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European & Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn


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