Terrorism can't curb progress

Such intentions are not without political purposes. The rapid development of China has made many Westerners more critical of the country's domestic affairs, with their focus being on Xinjiang and Tibet.

Several years ago, Xinjiang: China's Muslim Borderland, a book edited by S. Frederick Starr, a scholar with Johns Hopkins University in the US, accused China of violating human rights: "The Chinese state has shown in Tibet that it is quite willing to ride roughshod over humanitarian concerns, public opinion, and external pressures to neutralize separatist movements." The book even advocated: "Internal resistance in Xinjiang would have to be violent, dramatic, widespread, intense, prolonged, and international."

Many Western countries have similar definitions for terrorism. The United Kingdom's Terrorism Act 2000 describes terrorism thus: "the use or threat designed to influence the government or to intimidate the public or a section of the public" and "the use or threat made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause". Title 22, Chapter 38 of the United States Code, says: "The term 'terrorism' means premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against non-combatant targets by sub-national groups or clandestine agents." France, Germany and other Western countries also have similar definitions.

According to these definitions, rioters who kill or take people hostage, carry arms and explosives, and set fire to buildings are definitely terrorists. But some Western media outlets insist on seeing such incidents as religious or ethnic problems. They fail to see people that don't harm Western interests as terrorists.

Several years ago, some pamphlets titled "Key to Paradise" that were seized in Xinjiang exposed the anti-human philosophy of terrorists. To quote some sentences: "Jihad leads to heaven. It is worthwhile to die for jihad", "Do not be afraid if killing people. Anyone who does not join jihad will die like a scum", and "If one dares to oppose jihad, he will be executed as a traitor".

It is also the philosophy that the terrorists who attacked the Hotan police station on July 18 believe in. The local government acted firmly and responded strongly to the violence, took immediate action and prevented further loss of life and property. The central government, after thorough investigation, announced that the July 18 terrorist attack was premeditated. The government's action has protected the lives and property of all ethnic groups in the region and thus won their support.

Terrorists have tried to create panic among the public in China but have not succeeded in their evil designs because of the actions taken by the people's government. And the central government is determined that the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region will continue to walk the path of prosperity and development, so any attempt to hinder that process is doomed to fail.

The author is a research scholar with the Central Asian Institute, Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences.

(China Daily 07/28/2011 page9)