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China in damage control mode as terror attacks spread beyond Xinjiang China in damage control mode as terror attacks spread beyond Xinjiang
(about 2 hours later)
The attacks began decades ago. The assailants used knives, guns, even grenades. They ambushed policemen and officials in places few had heard of: Akto, Kuqa, Xinhe and other dusty counties in Xinjiang, a sprawling region in China's north-west. State media would issue a pithy statement about the violence, and the rest of the country would shrug its shoulders and march on. The attacks began decades ago. The assailants used knives, guns, even grenades. They ambushed police officers and officials in places few had heard of: Akto, Kuqa, Xinhe and other dusty counties in Xinjiang, a sprawling region in China's north-west. State media would issue a pithy statement about the violence, and the rest of the country would shrug its shoulders and march on.
But in recent months the spasms of public violence have spread beyond Xinjiang's borders, raising concerns nationwide about the government's ability to keep its citizens safe. Assailants armed with knives and bombs have struck at three major train stations since March. Authorities blamed the first two incidents on Muslim Uighur "terrorists" from the region, intent on waging holy war.But in recent months the spasms of public violence have spread beyond Xinjiang's borders, raising concerns nationwide about the government's ability to keep its citizens safe. Assailants armed with knives and bombs have struck at three major train stations since March. Authorities blamed the first two incidents on Muslim Uighur "terrorists" from the region, intent on waging holy war.
So on Tuesday when a knife-wielding man wounded six people at a train station in the southern city of Guangzhou, people immediately assumed the worst. While the attacker's identity and motives remained unclear – police shot and detained him at the scene – security authorities snapped into damage control mode. That night, three high-ranking public security officials paid separate inspection visits to railway stations in Beijing, Shanghai and the southern city of Changsha. In the central city of Zhengzhou, about 100,000 police, security guards and firemen paraded through the streets, setting up roadblocks and inspecting hotels and internet cafes. So on Tuesday when a knife-wielding man wounded six people at a train station in the southern city of Guangzhou, people immediately assumed the worst. While the attacker's identity and motives remained unclear – police shot and detained him at the scene – security authorities snapped into damage control mode. That night, three high-ranking public security officials paid separate inspection visits to railway stations in Beijing, Shanghai and the southern city of Changsha. In the central city of Zhengzhou, about 100,000 police, security guards and firefighters paraded through the streets, setting up roadblocks and inspecting hotels and internet cafes.
Experts say that without resolving Xinjiang's underlying problems, the shows of force may be only a patch. Uighur groups abroad call the attacks a cry of despair caused by religious repression and economic marginalisation. The government defends its regional policies as open and tolerant, blaming the attacks on "separatists" and "hostile forces" from abroad.Experts say that without resolving Xinjiang's underlying problems, the shows of force may be only a patch. Uighur groups abroad call the attacks a cry of despair caused by religious repression and economic marginalisation. The government defends its regional policies as open and tolerant, blaming the attacks on "separatists" and "hostile forces" from abroad.
"Perhaps each of these incidents has its own rationale, its own origins," said Yitzhak Shichor, a Xinjiang expert at the University of Haifa in Israel. "But these attackers certainly could not imagine that they could overcome the system. They went in with the idea that they were going to lose, given the balance of power. And this is an indication that these people feel they have no choice. They're people who have been backed into a corner, and they have nothing to lose.""Perhaps each of these incidents has its own rationale, its own origins," said Yitzhak Shichor, a Xinjiang expert at the University of Haifa in Israel. "But these attackers certainly could not imagine that they could overcome the system. They went in with the idea that they were going to lose, given the balance of power. And this is an indication that these people feel they have no choice. They're people who have been backed into a corner, and they have nothing to lose."
China's terrorism problem is getting worse, according to the official China National Security Studies annual report for 2013, released this week. Last year marked a particularly active period for attacks, "whether you're looking at the number of them or their severity," Wu Shaozhong, a professor at the Chinese People's Public Security University, wrote in the report. China's terrorism problem is getting worse, according to the official China National Security Studies annual report for 2013, released this week. Last year marked a particularly active period for attacks, "whether you're looking at the number of them or their severity", Wu Shaozhong, a professor at the Chinese People's Public Security University, wrote in the report.
In late April, a quarter of Shanghai's police began carrying guns during regular patrols. Some Beijing subway stations have stepped up security checks, conducting X-ray scans of passengers as well as their bags.In late April, a quarter of Shanghai's police began carrying guns during regular patrols. Some Beijing subway stations have stepped up security checks, conducting X-ray scans of passengers as well as their bags.
Magnus Ranstorp, of the Swedish National Defence College, said measures such as patrols were never sufficient in countering terrorism but were one part of the response. He said exchanging ideas internationally could help. "The US and Canada have huge experience with school shootings and have active shooter protocols based on research. If you can't prevent it, how do you take the person out?"Magnus Ranstorp, of the Swedish National Defence College, said measures such as patrols were never sufficient in countering terrorism but were one part of the response. He said exchanging ideas internationally could help. "The US and Canada have huge experience with school shootings and have active shooter protocols based on research. If you can't prevent it, how do you take the person out?"
Some experts say that an ongoing security crackdown in Xinjiang often takes the form of increased repression, which in turn fuels more social unrest. "There's a rage against the state, which is sometimes expressed in religious terms," said Raffaello Pantucci, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. "Mosques are being damaged, women being told to take off their veils, people being told to report other people with long beards – clearly the religious element is causing friction."Some experts say that an ongoing security crackdown in Xinjiang often takes the form of increased repression, which in turn fuels more social unrest. "There's a rage against the state, which is sometimes expressed in religious terms," said Raffaello Pantucci, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. "Mosques are being damaged, women being told to take off their veils, people being told to report other people with long beards – clearly the religious element is causing friction."
Last Wednesday, two Uighur attackers detonated explosives at a train station in Xinjiang's regional capital, Urumqi, killing themselves and one other person. In March, five assailants turned a train station in the south-west city of Kunming into a scene of carnage, slashing and hacking 29 people to death. Authorities responded to both incidents by vowing to step up anti-terror campaigns in the region.Last Wednesday, two Uighur attackers detonated explosives at a train station in Xinjiang's regional capital, Urumqi, killing themselves and one other person. In March, five assailants turned a train station in the south-west city of Kunming into a scene of carnage, slashing and hacking 29 people to death. Authorities responded to both incidents by vowing to step up anti-terror campaigns in the region.
The government must "make terrorists like rats scurrying across a street, with everybody shouting 'beat them'," President Xi Jinping said in late April before a trip to the ethnically riven city Kashgar. The government must "make terrorists like rats scurrying across a street, with everybody shouting 'beat them'," the president, Xi Jinping, said in late April before a trip to the ethnically riven city Kashgar.
Experts say the unpredictability, even spontaneity of many attacks make them difficult to pre-empt, both in China and abroad. James Leibold, of La Trobe University in Melbourne, said events such as the Oklahoma City and Boston marathon bombings had made Americans aware that "if a small group of people are intent on carrying out a terror event, it is hard to stop them".Experts say the unpredictability, even spontaneity of many attacks make them difficult to pre-empt, both in China and abroad. James Leibold, of La Trobe University in Melbourne, said events such as the Oklahoma City and Boston marathon bombings had made Americans aware that "if a small group of people are intent on carrying out a terror event, it is hard to stop them".
He added: "If it's one guy with a knife and the will to do it, how do you stop someone like that?"He added: "If it's one guy with a knife and the will to do it, how do you stop someone like that?"