Terrorism is the common enemy of human society, a challenge to all countries and all mankind, and a serious threat to international peace and security. China has always attached great importance to counter-terrorism work and has taken a series of major measures to resolutely safeguard national security and social stability. Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the state security organs resolutely oppose all forms of terrorism, resolutely carry out the fight against terrorism in accordance with the law, and make every effort to safeguard national security, prevent and combat terrorist activities, and protect the safety of people's lives and property.
| Terrorism, the common enemy of humanity |
Terrorism refers to the use of violence, sabotage, intimidation and other means to create social panic, endanger public safety, infringe on persons and property, or coerce state organs and international organizations to achieve their political, ideological and other goals. It also has elements such as means (violence, destruction, intimidation, etc.), goals (political, ideological, etc.) and forms of expression (propositions and behaviors), and has been recognized by the international community as a major security threat and a common enemy of all mankind because of its political, violent and serious consequences.
The scene of a violent attack in Sadr City, Baghdad. Source: China Daily
At present, the world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century, global terrorist activities are rampant, some terrorist forces are taking advantage of the chaos in turbulent regions, extremist ideologies are resurging in some countries, and terrorist attacks are frequenting around the world. According to relevant statistics, in 2023, more than 7,000 terrorist attacks occurred in 46 countries and regions around the world, causing tens of thousands of casualties.
| Anti-terrorism work and a just struggle |
National security is the foundation of national rejuvenation, and social stability is the prerequisite for a strong and prosperous country. The fight against terrorism has a bearing on national security, the vital interests of the people, and the overall situation of reform, development, and stability. China attaches great importance to counter-terrorism work, establishes and improves the pattern of counter-terrorism work, improves the counter-terrorism work system, strengthens the building of counter-terrorism forces, adheres to the principle of combining the work of the masses and relying on the masses, and carries out various forms of mass prevention and control activities in depth, so as to build an impregnable wall.
Recently, in response to various possible security threats, the 22nd batch of China's multi-functional engineer detachment for peacekeeping in Lebanon organized a defense drill to further improve the emergency response plan and effectively test the detachment's rapid response and emergency response capabilities. Source: China Military Network
China has actively undertaken and fulfilled its international counter-terrorism obligations, acceded to 12 global international anti-terrorism conventions and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Convention on Counter-Terrorism and other regional anti-terrorism treaties, supported the adoption of a series of global counter-terrorism resolutions and global peacekeeping operations by the UN Security Council, and promoted the formulation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. At the same time, China has actively participated in multilateral counter-terrorism cooperation mechanisms, established meeting and exchange mechanisms with dozens of countries, and carried out a large number of fruitful international exchanges and cooperation on counter-terrorism through joint operations, intelligence exchanges and judicial cooperation, making important contributions to the development of the global counter-terrorism cause.
| China's plan to counter terrorism in accordance with the law |
As a victim of terrorism, China has long faced the real threat of terrorism. China has always attached great importance to the establishment of the rule of law against terrorism, and has continuously accumulated experience in the rule of law against terrorism by concluding or acceding to a series of international conventions and treaties, and by amending and improving criminal laws.
On December 27, 2015, the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress (NPCSC) decided to incorporate counter-terrorism into its national security strategy. On 1 January 2016, the Counter-Terrorism Law of the People's Republic of China, the first comprehensive law of the People's Republic of China to systematically regulate counter-terrorism work, was officially promulgated and implemented, providing a legal basis for combating terrorist activities in accordance with the law. On January 23, 2024, the Information Office of the State Council released a white paper entitled "China's Counter-Terrorism Legal System and Practice", which focuses on the process, content and characteristics of China's establishment and improvement of the counter-terrorism legal system, comprehensively introduces China's exploration and practice of the anti-terrorism rule of law path in line with its own reality, and provides "Chinese wisdom" and "Chinese solutions" for the world's counter-terrorism struggle.
After decades of development and improvement, China has gradually formed a legal system for counter-terrorism with the Constitution as the foundation, the Counter-Terrorism Law as the main body, the criminal law as the backbone, the National Security Law as the guarantee, and other laws as the supplement, covering administrative regulations, judicial interpretations, local regulations, departmental rules and local government rules. Public safety and the safety of people's lives and property have provided strong legal support and guarantees, and good practical results have been achieved.
| Glorious Mission National Security Operations |
National security is the most basic and universal aspiration of the people, and punishing and combating terrorism is a just move and a proper duty to safeguard national security. Counter-terrorism work is a glorious duty and mission entrusted to the state security organs by the Party Central Committee, and the state security organs have always adhered to the rule of law thinking, precise policy, integrated prevention and control, combined with the combination of special and mass prevention and treatment, persisted in treating both the symptoms and the root causes, and comprehensively dealt with them, persisted in deepening exchanges and pragmatic cooperation, strictly prevented the extension of foreign terrorist activities into the country, strictly prevented the infiltration and infiltration of violent and terrorist extremist ideologies into the country, and vigorously assumed the responsibility of maintaining national security, social stability, and The sacred mission of people's tranquility has played its due role in the fierce struggle against terrorism.
In the new era and new journey, state security organs will adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, firmly establish the overall concept of national security, always tighten the strings of the anti-terrorist struggle, resolutely win the tough battle against terrorism, resolutely safeguard national security, resolutely promote international common security, make every effort to maintain social stability, and effectively ensure people's tranquility.