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Statement by H.E. Mr. Tang Jiaxuan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China at the UN Security Council Ministerial Meeting on Counter-Terrorism
New York, 20 January 2003
Mr. President,
Terrorism is the common enemy of whole mankind and poses a threat to
international peace and security. At the very beginning of the New Year, it is
of great significance for us to gather at the august hall of the Security
Council to comprehensively review the past international counter-terrorism
cooperation and discuss the priority and direction of our future work.
It is over one year now since the “911”attacks, yet this inhumanly tragic
incident is still haunting us from time to time. Moreover, such traumatic
tragedies caused by terrorism are still unfolding, without the slightest sign of
ending. Horrible blast on Bali Island, Indonesia. Barbarian hostage-taking at
the theatre in Moscow. Sudden attacks in Mombasa, Kenya. All these have enabled
the international community to see deeper the danger of terrorism, the security
threat facing mankind, and the urgency of better anti-terror cooperation.
Mr. President,
Frequent terrorist attacks reflect profoundly all sorts of deep-seated problems
the international community encounters. Continuous local conflicts and mutual
hatred among different races and ethnic groups have granted terrorists all kinds
of disguise in their evil attempts and acts. Chronical backwardness, the gap
between the rich and the poor and social injustice have become the hotbed
breeding and nourishing terrorism. Economic globalization and informatization,
which are developing at breathtaking speed, have armed terrorism with expedite
means of transmission. Lack of understanding and tolerance among different
civilizations has aided terrorism to bully around.
At the recent 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, President
Jiang Zemin pointed out in most explicit terms that we oppose terrorism in all
its forms, and that we have to strengthen international cooperation to address
both the symptoms and causes of terrorism, guard against and crack down hard on
terrorist activities and eliminate the roots of terrorism with stepped-up
efforts. It is the consistent proposition of the Chinese Government that we need
to have clear target and sound evidence to fight terrorism. There should not be
“double standards” in counter-terrorism, nor should it be linked with any
particular country, nation or religion. In the war on terror, there must be an
integrated approach with due regard to properly handling of such issues as
development and regional conflicts.
At present, the international struggle against terrorism has entered a new
phase. It is extremely important for us to look at and promote the struggle from
a historical and macro point of view. In this connection, the Chinese Government
wishes to share the following views.
First, the kernel of counter-terrorism is the maintenance of peace and security
of mankind. Rendering this world or its regions unstable is the goal of
terrorists and also what they depend on for survival. Such hotspot issues as the
Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan are dragging on and on without any solution,
and will inevitably affect the international cooperation on counter-terrorism,
to which we have to pay particular attention. The war on terror is for the
purpose of freeing the mankind from the threats to their peace and security. All
the measures, ways and means employed by the international community have to be
conducive to easing and resolving tensions both internationally and regionally,
rather than the contrary. It is incumbent on the international community to
foster a new security concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality
and cooperation so as to create a favorable macro-environment for the struggle
against terrorism.
Second, the basis of counter-terrorism is universal development and common
prosperity. Where there are backwardness and poverty, there are conflicts and
turmoil. The prolonged violence and impoverishment in some developing countries
have made them easy prey to the manipulation of terrorists. When it comes to
stronger development efforts and tougher moves against terrorism, we must be
careful not to promote one at the expense of the other but to give equal
emphasis to both, addressing both the symptom and root causes. Only when we
succeed in achieving common development by facilitating each other’s economy can
we eradicate the root causes of terrorism. Only when we narrow the wealth gap
and make societies fairer and more equitable can we deprive terrorist activities
of their soil of existence, And only when we truly fulfill the global
development strategy that allows all to exist, to win and to share the benefits
of prosperity can we deny terrorism its last sanctuary.
Third, the guarantee of counter-terrorism is the closer communication and
integration among civilizations. Terrorism is a common enemy of all
civilizations, ethnic groups and religions. Given their difference in history,
customs and beliefs, we ought to encourage all countries, ethnic groups,
civilizations and religions to respect one another, live with one another in
peace and harmony, seek common grounds while shelving differences, and learn
from each other in an open and accommodating manner. The diversity of
civilizations is a source of human progress. Counter-terrorism should provide
different civilizations with a new opportunity to learn from each other through
mutual exchanges, a new starting point for their dialogue and integration, and a
new engine for their common progress and prosperity, rather than a cause for
greater ethnic hatred, racial conflict, clashes of civilizations or estrangement
between peoples.
Fourth, the key to counter-terrorism is stronger and deeper international
cooperation. As a challenge at the global level, terrorism must be dealt with
jointly by countries working hand in hand. What has transpired in the past year
and more shows that no country can, or should, stay away from the international
campaign against terrorism. The success of this campaign requires solidarity and
cooperation among countries. It requires clearly-defined and joint actions,
guided by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and universally
recognized norms of international law.
To fight against terrorism will be a protracted war as it involves many aspects
of endeavors. As the focal point of the international regime of collective
security, the Security Council is duty-bound to provide guidance to nations,
global or regional organizations in their operations against terrorism and to
facilitate more effective cooperation in this area.
The Counter-Terrorism Committee should continue to monitor the implementation of
the relevant Security Council resolutions by clarifying further the lines of
thinking, stressing on the focal points and effects and formulating detailed
plans in this respect. The Committee should pay great attention to the
developing countries’ capacity-building in counter-terrorism. It calls on the
Committee to put forward new measures, means and methods and in particular to
determine as soon as possible its policy orientation and priority areas.
Mr. President,
China is a responsible country that loves peace, treasures peace and endeavors
to defend peace. We resolutely support and actively participate in the
international struggle against terrorism and push for the leading role of the
United Nations. We have implemented in real earnest the relevant Security
Council resolutions and joined the overwhelming majority of the international
anti-terrorism conventions. We have actively advocated regional cooperation to
fight terrorism and strengthen such efforts in APEC, Shanghai Cooperation
Organization and ASEAN Regional Forum. We have conducted fruitful bilateral
cooperation with the countries concerned in the war on terror on the basis of
equality, two-way cooperation and mutual benefit.
All departments and agencies in China have stepped up their efforts to fight
against terrorism and have adopted a series of measures in such fields as
legislation, aviation, finance and customs to prevent the occurrence of
terrorist activities. The Amendment to the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic
of China clearly defines terrorist behaviors and their financing as breach of
law. China’s Ministry of Public Security has established for that purpose an
anti-terrorism bureau. China’s banking system is making efforts to prepare and
establish a center for overseeing financial Transactions and payments to prevent
money-laundering.
Mr. President,
China is a victim of terrorism. Having long colluded with the al-Qaeda, the
“East Turkistan” terror organizations have perpetrated numerous terrorist
attacks in China’s Xinjiang and the neighboring regions of Central Asia,
seriously threatening peace and security in these areas. With an increasing
disclosure of the crimes committed by the “East Turkistan” terrorist
organizations, more and more countries have come to recognize the terrorist
nature of the “East Turkistan” and have rendered increasing understanding and
support to the Chinese Government in its fight against terrorism. In September
last year, the Security Council put the “East Turkistan Islamic Movement”(ETIM)
on the list of terrorist organizations, a move that consigned the “East
Turkistan” group into the dustpan of history. The Chinese Government is ready to
join all the parties to effectively fight against the “East Turkistan” forces of
terror, safeguard a peaceful and secure life for the Chinese people of all
nationalities and maintain regional peace and stability.
Thank you, Mr. President.
(Source: Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website)
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin
Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of
International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the
opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or
its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007 by
MIIS.
