China's role highlighted in terrorism fight

China has been playing an active role with other countries to combat terrorism and has contributed to regional and global security and stability, as terrorism is the common enemy of human rights protection, legal experts said.

In accordance with China's laws and the international conventions it has entered into or concluded, China actively cooperates in international counterterrorism on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, according to a white paper titled "China's Legal Framework and Measures for Counterterrorism" released by the State Council Information Office this week.

Terrorism is the common enemy of global society, and counterterrorism is a global issue. Huang Bin, director of Fujian Police College's Research Center on Regional Counterterrorism, said China has provided the world with Chinese wisdom to combat terrorism.

"China has taken part in many joint counterterrorism missions and drills with other countries, which have deepened international cooperation in fighting terrorism. Also, the country has provided training and equipment to other developing countries, so they can combat terrorism more effectively," she said.

China has joined 12 global counterterrorism conventions and facilitated the formulation of documents such as the Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States Agreement on Border Defense Cooperation, played an important role in maintaining international and regional security and stability, the white paper said.

International cooperation is an important part of China's counterterrorism measures, so the country has been actively involved in dialogues, intelligence exchanges and law enforcement cooperation with other countries and organizations, said Yang Haitao, a professor at the Criminal Investigation Police University of China's School of Investigation and Counterterrorism.

China supports the United Nations' leading and coordinating role in international cooperation on counterterrorism and it has introduced a series of stances and principles on counterterrorism at the global stage, Yang said.

He added that taking the suggestion from China, the UN included combating terrorism online in the global counterterrorism strategy framework for the first time in 2014.

"China is against associating terrorism with certain countries, ethnic groups or religions. It also opposes imposing double standards and the politicization of counterterrorism issues. Such stances have also been backed by the UN and the majority of countries," he said.

Furthermore, China has established communication mechanisms for counterterrorism-related issues with dozens of countries including Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan, Yang said.

"China will continue to work closely with other countries to facilitate the global effort to counter terrorism," he added.

Meanwhile, in fighting terrorism, the international community should support diverse law-based actions, reject double standards, and oppose the politicization of related issues because such actions have severely hampered the global effort to fight terrorism under the rule of law, weakened the foundations of cooperation and reduced operational effectiveness, the white paper said.