International

Terrorism : China’s Concerns Over Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement

Par Kimeng Hilton
05 juil. 2024 21:16
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The terrorist organization is blamed for its association with Al-Qaida, Usama bin Laden and for financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating terrorist acts in China and abroad.

On October 20, 2020, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo quietly entered into the Federal Register that the United States of America no longer recognized the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, ETIM as a terrorist organization. Some 18 years before – on August 19, 2002 – then Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage had designated ETIM as a terrorist organization in a similar manner.

Appeal To International Community
On February 9, 2022, Zhang Jun, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, urged the international community to pay close attention to the terrorist threats posed by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, ETIM. Also known as the Turkistan Islamic Party, TIP. "We call on the Security Council and the international community to … to cut off its connection with ISIS and erase the space for it to breed and do harm," the Chinese envoy told the UN Security Council briefing on Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts.

Attacks Within, Without China
Jun cited the UN Secretary General's report, which pointed out that ISIS continued to recruit from ETIM/TIP. "ETIM is a terrorist organization designated by the 1267 Committee of the UN Security Council. It has carried out many inhumane terrorist attacks in Xinjiang, China, resulting in mass casualties of innocent people," said Zhang.

ETIM On China’s Doorsteps
The ambassador said that in recent years, this organization has spread and grown in Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and other regions, adding that the report released by the monitoring group of the 1267 Committee earlier this month further points out that there are 1,000 to 3,000 ETIM/TIP fighters in Syria. "They not only launched attacks on the ground, but also recruited, trained and sent terrorists for terrorist attacks in Central Asian countries and China. The ETIM fighters in Afghanistan even clamored to 'return to Xinjiang for Jihad,'" he said.

Designated As Terrorist Movement By UN
The Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement was listed on 11 September 2002 a terrorist movement by the UN pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 of resolution 1390 (2002) as being associated with Al-Qaida, Usama bin Laden or the Taliban for “participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf or in support of” or “otherwise supporting acts or activities of.”

Close Ties With Taliban, Al-Qaida
The ETIM is an organization which has used violence to further its aim of setting up an independent so-called “East Turkistan” within China. ETIM has since its establishment maintained close ties with the Taliban, Al-Qaida and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. It was founded by Hasan Mahsum from Xinjiang, China, who was killed by Pakistani troops in October 2003. ETIM is currently led by Abdul Haq, who was also a member of Al-Qaida’s Shura Council as of 2005.

Terrorist Propaganda
Since 2008, ETIM has published several terrorist videos on military training, targeting the Beijing Olympics and other events in China. In July and August 2009, ETIM published four videos showing its training activities, with Abdul Haq and other ETIM leaders making speeches inciting Uygurs to launch violent acts against China.

Planned Attacks Against Foreign Interests
There is evidence indicating that ETIM members also took steps to plan attacks against the interests of the United States, including the United States Embassy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. On 22 May 2002, two suspected ETIM members were deported to China from Kyrgyzstan on the ground that they were planning terrorist attacks. The Kyrgyz government stated that the two men were planning to target embassies in Bishkek, as well as trade centers and public gathering places. One of them, Mamet Yasyn was found to have conducted surveillance of several embassies and market places.

ETIM’s Sources Of Funding
ETIM has a close financial relationship with Al-Qaida. The major sources of funding for ETIM activities came from Usama bin Laden (deceased) and Al-Qaida and from organized crime such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling, kidnapping, extortion and looting. ETIM identifies and recruits criminals and terrorists who have fled China and secretly provides them with terrorist training.

Training Grounds
ETIM has received significant support from Al-Qaida and the Taliban, and previously from Usama bin Laden and has sent its members to Al-Qaida and Taliban training camps. Upon completion of training, ETIM members have traveled to