Week of September 13, 2002

• DOMESTIC: Representatives of Dalai Lama visit China
• INTERNATIONAL: China remains wary of US action in Iraq
• DOMESTIC: China destroys terrorist bases

President Bush's speech to the United Nations appears to have been unsuccessful in generating Chinese support for drastic action against Saddam Hussein. China, a permanent Security Council member watched Bush's speech on Thursday with interest. In a meeting with European Union foreign ministers, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said that earnest adherence to UN resolutions is necessary. However, analysts say Beijing has been relatively restrained in its diplomatic language, suggesting China might be willing to provide support for the US in exchange for later concessions. Analysts further speculate that President Jiang may suggest such an exchange when he meets with Bush in Texas this October, possibly offering assent for action against Iraq in return for US restraint in the Taiwan Strait.
 
 

Chinese forces smashed 44 bases of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said the Chinese police dealt a serious blow to the ETIM, destroying hid-out areas and bases, and seizing large quantities of firearms. According to Beijing, ETIM is behind massive terrorist activities in Xinjiang and aims to build up an independent East Turkestan Islamic state in the region. Kong claims that 166 people have been killed over the past few years due to assassinations, explosions and other terrorist acts perpetrated by ETIM.

The United Nations Security Council formally classified the ETIM as a terrorist organization earlier this week after joint lobbying by China, the US, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. Diplomatic analysts predict Beijing will take advantage of this UN decision to crack down heavily on the ETIM as well as other separatist Uighur organizations. Beijing has also announced that it will participate in joint anti-terrorist military maneuvers with Kyrgyzstan along their mutual border this October. This will be the first time China has held joint army exercises with any of its Central Asian neighbors. Xinhua reported that other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will observe the exercises.