The Chinese counter-terrorism strategy: policies, institutions, and strategic frameworks

Following its long-held principles of non-intervention and non-interferences, China was able to maintain a low profile for a considerable period of time, particularly in regions with long records of most active and dangerous international terrorist groups, organizations, and networks. The main interest of China and its ruling party, in relation to terrorism, has essentially focused on ensuring the stability of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), preventing terrorism from diffusing into the rest of China via radicalized transnational Uyghur networks. As China’s global economic and political activities and influence continue to grow in regions like Central Africa and the Middle East, the Chinese state is increasingly likely to become the target of international terrorist acts. In this sense, China adopted new national security and counterterrorism laws, as well as non-regulatory measures such as counter-terrorism and deradicalization training programs to increase and enhance the policing and social control of its areas at risk. This article examines China’s key anti-terrorism measures and practices on both regulatory and non-regulatory levels, as well as the leading organizations in charge of developing and enforcing counterterrorism policy in China.