http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/07/20097154332853452.html
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
08:19 Mecca time, 05:19 GMT
China alert over 'al-Qaeda threat'
Xinjiang has been placed under tight security
following the unrest [AFP]
China has warned its citizens in Algeria to be on heightened alert
following warnings that al-Qaeda could be plotting attacks on Chinese workers
in North Africa in retaliation for the recent crackdown on unrest in China's
western Xinjiang region.
In a statement, China's foreign ministry said it was taking "all
necessary measures" to protect Chinese nationals overseas.
"We will keep a close eye on developments and make joint efforts with
relevant countries . to ensure the safety of overseas Chinese institutions and
people," a spokesman said.
The warning follows the publication of an intelligence report citing
"chatter" from al-Qaeda's North African arm vowing to avenge the deaths of
Uighur Muslims killed during several days of unrest in the city of Urumqi.
A posting on the website of the Chinese embassy in Algiers on Tuesday
urged all Chinese nationals and organisations in the country to take increased
safety precautions and strengthen security measures "in consideration of the
situation after the July 5 incident in Urumqi".
'Chatter'
"Some of these individuals have been actively seeking information
on China's interests in the Muslim world, which they could use for targeting
purposes"
Stirling Assynt report
According to London-based risk analysis firm Stirling Assynt, recent days
have seen "an increasing amount of chatter" among figures believed to have
links to al-Qaeda discussing attacks on Chinese interests.
"Some of these individuals have been actively seeking information on
China's interests in the Muslim world, which they could use for targeting
purposes," the firm said in a report released on Tuesday.
"This threat should be taken seriously," the report's authors wrote.
In the report Stirling Assynt estimated that there were 50,000 Chinese
workers in Algeria, and hundreds of thousands more employed in projects across
North Africa and the Middle East.
China has said more than 180 people died in the recent violence in Urumqi
which erupted on July 5.
It is not clear how many of the dead were Muslims but Chinese officials
have said most of those killed were ethnic Han Chinese.
China has been expanding investments in Algeria as it seeks access
to oil supplies [EPA]
However, Uighur leaders have accused Chinese forces of opening fire on
peaceful protests, and say the number of people killed is far higher than the
official tally.
Responding to the reported al-Qaeda threat of reprisals against Chinese
workers, Uighur exiles said they opposed the use of violence from any side.
"I do not believe violence is a solution to any problem," Rebiya Kadeer,
the Washington-based head of the World Uighur Congress, said in a statement.
"Global terrorists should not take advantage of the Uighur people's
legitimate aspirations and the current tragedy in East Turkestan to commit acts
of terrorism targeting Chinese diplomatic missions or civilians," she said,
using the term many Uighurs use for Xinjiang.
China has accused Kadeer of instigating the unrest in Xinjiang and has
frequently said that she and her organisation have links to "terrorists".
Possible targets
In its report Stirling Assynt said likely Chinese targets could be across
the Middle East and Africa, including possible strikes on Chinese projects in
Yemen.
In depth
Q&A: China's restive Uighurs
Xinjiang: China's 'other Tibet'
Silk Road city 'under threat'
Muslim states 'silent' on Uighurs
Uighurs blame 'ethnic hatred'
Videos:
China's 'Go West' policy
Xinjiang under martial law
China's changing approach to reporting Xinjiang
Exiled Uighur denies stirring unrest
Uighur culture under threat
The firm also noted the killing three weeks ago of 24 Algerian security
officers who were meant to protect Chinese engineers.
That attack has been blamed on al-Qaeda-linked fighters.
"On that occasion they did not attack the Chinese engineers because the
target was the project on which they were working. Now, future attacks of this
kind are likely to target security forces and Chinese engineers alike," the
report said.
It said the most likely scenario would be that al-Qaeda's central
leadership would encourage their affiliates in North Africa and the Arabian
peninsula to attack Chinese targets near at hand, it said.
Al-Qaeda centrally does "not want to open a new front with China", the
analysis said.
Asked about the report, Qin Gang, a spokesman for China's foreign
ministry, denied the Urumqi violence was triggered by religion.
"We hope that relevant Muslim countries and Muslims can recognise the
true nature [of the unrest]," Qin told reporters in Beijing.
He said the violence was aimed at sabotaging China's unity, adding: "It's
not an issue of religion or ethnic groups."
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