Inevitable, irreversible engagement with terrorism
Once little more than a word in Hollywood films, "terrorism" now is a common political term and, unfortunately, a real threat on China's streets.
An explosion occurred at a railway station in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Wednesday evening. It is not clear if it is a terrorist attack, but it certainly provokes memories of the killing spree at a crowded station in the southwestern city of Kunming in early March.
President Xi Jinping on his recent tour to Xinjiang vowed to deploy a "strike-first" strategy against terrorism in a bid to deter enemies and inspire people.
Kashgar, in the most western part of Xinjiang, has witnessed several deadly terrorist attacks in the past few years. Dropping by a police station there, Xi told police officers that the better they prepare themselves in everyday training, the more likely they are to avoid bloodshed in real encounters with terrorists.
The Xinjiang visit followed a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee on national security and social stability last Friday, with antiterrorism the main topic. In his speech at the session, Xi described antiterrorism as "essential to national security, people's basic interests and the country's reform, development and stability".
He did not exaggerate.
Terrorists savagely slaughtered 29 innocent civilians and injured over 140 in the Kunming station attack.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90882/8614498.html