China celebrates four years without a violent terrorist incident

‘Battle against terrorism has continued to do well,’ spokesman for public security ministry says

Safeguarding China’s political regime was the focus of ministry’s work in the 2013-20 period, he says

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Protecting China’s regime was the focus of the public security ministry’s work between 2013 and 2020, it said. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:30pm, 15 Apr 2021Updated: 11:46pm, 15 Apr 2021

There have been no terrorist attacks in China for the past four years, the public security ministry said on Thursday.

“Our battle against terrorism has continued to do well, and there have been no violent terrorist incidents for four consecutive years,” spokesman Li Guozhong told a press conference held to review the ministry’s work and achievements between 2013 and 2020.

“The present situation is stable and harmonious as people enjoy security and a good living and work environment,” he said.

That state had been achieved as a result of a “high pressure approach” to fighting terrorism and the “successful implementation of the leadership’s new era governance strategy in Xinjiang”, he said.

A guard tower and barbed wire fences are seen around a Xinjiang facility in 2018. China has been accused of oppressive behaviour towards the area’s Uygurs and other Muslim populations, including placing them in internment camps. Photo: AP

Li said the focus of the ministry’s work over the past seven years had been “safeguarding the security of the regime and the [political] system”.

The ministry had “fought against infiltrations and subversion by foreign powers, as well as all kinds of political risks both online and offline”, he said, without giving any details.

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