In a press conference on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin expressed concern over the escalating connections between the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and global terrorist entities such as the Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda. Wang emphasized that the terrorist organization, responsible for a series of violent attacks both within and outside China, poses a significant danger to China’s overseas interests and the stability of relevant nations.
The announcement follows the formal arrest of 25 suspects by Turkish authorities in connection with a church shooting incident in Istanbul last January. One of the suspects, formerly a Chinese citizen who acquired Turkish citizenship, was identified as having links to ETIM and IS.
Wang highlighted that ETIM, also known as the “East Turkistan Islamic Party,” is a designated terrorist organization by the UN Security Council and the Turkish government. Over recent years, the group has strengthened its ties with international and regional terrorist forces, heightening its involvement in planning and executing attacks against overseas Chinese targets.
Underscoring the shared responsibility of the international community, Wang emphasized that combating ETIM is at the core of China’s counter-terrorism efforts. He stressed that terrorism is a common enemy of humanity, reiterating the urgent need for collaborative action. Wang expressed China’s willingness to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation with nations like Turkey, aiming to decisively combat ETIM and uphold international and regional security and stability.