DATE AND TIME PUBLISHED: 8/6/2021
(TUESDAY), 12.20 PM
WRITTEN BY: KAM2284D
1. NOR NADIA BINTI
AZMAN (2020899318)
2. INTAN NAZIFA BINTI
JONID (2020899312)
3. SITI NAJIHA BINTI SHAIFUL NIZAM
(2020862062)
4. MUHAMMAD ILHAM BIN MOHD AZHARI (2020608314)
5. AZREEN SHAHIRA BINTI MD ASRI
(2020483726)
Topic: April 2014 Ürümqi Attack
1.0 INTRODUCTION
2014
Urumqi Attack refers to the terrorist attack that took place on 30th
April 2014 in the city of Urumqi, Xinjiang. The incident was carried out by two
religious’ extremists, according to the Chinese government, who both perished
in the bomb. In a bomb and knife assault at the station, three persons were
murdered, including the terrorists, and 79 were injured. (Michael Martina, 2014)
The
incident appeared to coincide with Chinese President Xi Jinping's first visit
to Xinjiang, a four-day tour that ended on Wednesday to a region where Muslim
minority have frequently battled with Chinese authorities in violent clashes. (William
Wan, 2014)
The
two assailants who were dead, according to the Xinjiang regional government's
official news website (www.ts.cn), had "long been inspired by extreme
religious ideas and participated in extremist religious activities." One
of them was identified as Sedierding Shawuti, a 39-year-old man from Xayar
county in Xinjiang’s Aksu region. The other person, however, was not
identified. According to the administration, the third victim was a spectator.
“Two mobsters set off bombs on their bodies and died,” the People's Daily, the
official newspaper of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, stated earlier on its
microblog.
For
years, Xinjiang, a resource-rich region strategically placed on the Central
Asian border, has been plagued by unrest, which the Chinese government has
blamed on Islamist terrorists and separatists. The explosion was the first in
the Xinjiang region's capital in 17 years. It happened shortly after a train
from a predominantly Han Chinese region arrived, according to official media.
According to authorities, “knife-wielding mobs” slashed at individuals at a
station exit and set off bombs, according to the Xinhua news agency. (Michael
Martina, 2014)
2.0 APRIL
2014 URUMQI ATTACK (WHAT, WHY, WHERE, WHO)
TIP
refers to Turkistan Islamic Party or Tim which is Turkistan Islam Movement.
They are formerly known as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). The root
of this terrorist group is founded in Western China. In 30 April 2014, the TIP
has attacked the railway station in Urumqi South. Through this attack, 3 people
were killed including both of the perpetrators and 79 people who were injured.
The type of attack that been made during that day are suicide bombing and knife
attack. The attack happened at 7.10 pm of local time when a pair of attackers with
knives and explosives bomb at the exit of Urumqi South Station. Based on the People’s Daily, it stated that
the attackers had set off bombs that tied to their bodies. The bomb was said by
the witness there, apparently it was the homemade bomb as the blast was not
massive. Turkestan Islamic Party was claimed responsible for the attack
according to an anti-terrorist intelligence service. The attack was carried out
by two religiously motivated suicide bombers. The reason behind the attack was
said related with Xinjiang conflict. Therefore, the attack has happened on the
final day of four-day tour of Xi Jinping. It is because he had label Xijiang as
the front line against terrorism during his visit at nearby city, Kashgar and
also because he vowed to take hardline against terrorism and violence
attributed to Muslim Uyghur separatists. After the attack, security forces have
moved quickly to the station and the later on various entrances at the railway
station was guarded by paramilitary and riot police. It is to evacuate the
area. Casualties were taken to hospital in ambulances and there were also taxis
to back up the lack of ambulance availability at that moment. It is to ensure
the smoothness treatment to those who are injured. As a result of those attack,
the Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping has made a promise to take
decisive actions against the attack caused by terrorist and was said to take
“strike-first” strategy as a way to respond with the incidents. The government
official was also called by him to have those who are injured were be assisted
and to investigate the crime and punish those who involved in the attack.
3.0 REVIEW
3.1
CHALLENGES
3.1.1 The
Demographics of Urumqi
Despite
the violent occurrences that have occurred around China, Urumqi remains China's
biggest terrorist hotspot. Urumqi has this distinction since it is the nexus of
Xinjiang's cultural melting pot, where Uighurs and Han Chinese coexist. Because
of this combination, there is a constant concern in Urumqi of ethnic tensions
violently spilling over into larger communal strife, which might be sparked by
acts aimed at igniting such violence. On July 5, 2009, violent riots occurred
in Urumqi, killing 184 people and badly injuring over 1,000 others. Uighur
rioters, according to allegations in the news, attacked Han Chinese shops and
individuals on the streets. In reaction, large numbers of Urumqi's Han people
flocked to the streets. While ethnic tensions finally dissipated, they remained
a problem in the months that followed. (Sajjan M. Gohel, 2014)
3.1.2 Critics
against Government on the Restrictive and Discriminatory Policies
While
Beijing blames separatists for inflaming ethnic tensions, government opponents
claim the Uyghurs have been alienated by restricted and discriminating laws and
practises (France24, 2014). Despite residing in an ostensibly
"independent" zone, many Xinjiang residents who identify as Uyghurs,
"Muslims," or "Turks" believe that Chinese administration
has disregarded or, worse, actively worked against them. These folks are
currently in grave danger.
Some
Uyghurs also claim that a large-scale Han migration to Xinjiang has rendered
them a minority in their own country, leaving them with less career
opportunities. The increased opportunities afforded by free trade across the
western border mostly favour Han, who are progressively pushing Uyghurs to the
margins.
The
lopsided distribution of wealth, in their opinion, benefits Han Chinese at the expense
of Uyghurs. The majority of those interested in developing the province's
energy resources are Han Chinese, not Uyghurs, and the revenues flow mostly to
Beijing. That portion of the province's money that does make its way back to
Urumqi is used to fund a number of projects that endanger the homelands and
environments in which Xinjiang's indigenous peoples have lived for ages.
(Graham E. Fuller & S. Frederick Starr, n.d.)
3.2 SIGNIFICANCE
It
is crucial to understand the significance of Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) in Ürümqi attack April
2014. Among the importance of the attack in Urumqi, Xinjiang is to warn and
threaten the Chinese government against violence that could occur at any time in
their area. This series of attacks in Urumqi is not a new attack, in fact there
is also violence and crime committed by criminal groups. This aims to remind
administrators in the country to be vigilant in their every action. if they
make a mistake against the population especially the Uyghur Islamic population,
adverse effects can happen at any time. As we know the Turkistan Islamic Party
(TIP) terrorist group has links to Al-Qaeda, therefore it is possible that acts
of insurgency and violence could take place on a large scale.
Next, among the other interests of the incident was,
aimed at defending the fate or revenge of the Uyghur people in the area. The
way the violence took place in Urumqi, Xinjiang was very cruel because it
involved innocent lives. however, it was an act of protesters to protest cases
of abuse and killings involving Muslims there especially in relation to Uyghur.
Reuters, which conducted an interview with Mansour in
March 2014, noted that Mansour and TIP are based in Pakistan’s tribal areas,
along with “a lethal mix of militant groups, including the Taliban and al
Qaeda.” In the Reuters interview, Mansour vowed that “Muslims will take
revenge” on China and promised future attacks. Thus, this has given a glimpse
into the revenge that took place by sacrificing several lives in Urumqi, Xinjiang
in April 2014.
3.3 FACTORS
3.3.1 Seeks an Independent in Xinjiang
China has long faced low-level violence from the East
Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). ETIM, started by Hasan Mahsun, a Uighur
Muslim from Kashgar, seeks an independent Xinjiang, which the organization
refers to as East Turkestan. Though it began as a separatist movement, ETIM
became more radical over time, in part because some of its members mixed with
al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Since the establishment of the Turkistan Islamic
Party, it has aimed to establish an independent state called East Turkestan
replacing Xinjiang. the objectives targeted by the TIP have come under many
constraints to materialize. Therefore, the violence in Urumqi, Xinjiang has
taken place to show that they are very committed and steadfast with their
objective of making Xinjiang an independent state area.
3.3.2 A Visit by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of The
Communist Party of China to the Region
Xi had just finished an inspection tour of Xinjiang
when the attack in Urumqi occurred. While in Xinjiang, Xi visited Chinese
military and paramilitary outposts and called for troops to strike at
terrorists with a “crushing blow.” The attack took place on the evening before
China’s May 1 holiday, a time of especially heavy travel across the country.
The attackers may also have wanted to send a message in the wake of Xi’s visit
to Xinjiang and his strong words against terrorism and separatism. Xi Jinping's
visit was one of the main factors that led to the case. Because of the
dissatisfaction by the terrorists, against the Chinese government and also to
coincide with the visit, TIP has carried out violent killings and bombings
against people who are Chinese citizens. If no visits were made it is likely
that the violence that took place would not have occurred or at least not
involved murder.
3.4 THE
IMPACTS OF THE ATTACK DURING APRIL 2014 IN ÜRÜMQI
3.4.1 China increased
international security involvement
In order to justify restrictions that are harsh against the
community of Chinese Uyghur community, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has
used the threat of international terrorism. The fear of potential terrorism
activity in Xinjiang have cause due to the involvement of a minor number of
Uyghur fighting in Afghanistan and the Uyghur exposure to elements that are
radical in the Islamic community internationally.
The movement of separatist in Xinjiang
has led to a serious terrorism that is known as transnational terrorism. The
terrorist skills inspired from international terrorist could lead to damages in
China. Due to this, in order to ensure international terrorism does not come to
China and attack the country with violence, China must look on the outside
borders.
China
has been active in matters pertaining to pressuring small states in relation to
terrorism abroad and Uyghurs. In order to coordinate with regional partners,
China uses Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in order to coordinate or
link with partners that are regional. This includes Russia in order to
stabilize in the central of Asia and combat terrorism. By using the SCO, agenda
and pressuring other states to withhold support for Uyghurs and assist them in
monitoring Uyghurs movement abroad
In
2018, China’s President, Xi, had met with the President of France, Emmanuel
Macron. This meeting has led to the two countries which are China and France to
release a statement in order to work together in matters pertaining to
terrorism and security. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has supported France
continuously for terrorism attacks. In order to cope with China’s own domestic
terrorism concern, the CCP seeks for supports from the Western. Although, there
was not a single official agreement shown by these two states, the statement
made earlier between France and China shows that CCP is willing to be
accountable when it comes to intelligence sharing with partners from the
Western if CCP receives compensation that is valuable
3.4.2 Police
monitors resident movements
To
cope with terrorist activities, the China government have worked very hard
since the year of 2014. The government have built a secret police state in
order to monitor the resident movements. This initiative is essentially active
in Xinjiang. This initiative had grown bigger when the government decided to
widen the surveillance by using technology to other area of China. This
innovation uses big data, sensors as well as other modern methods and
technologies. This method of surveillance is more focused on the area that is
populated with community that is Muslim. In order for the civilian to do daily
activities such as the usage of public transportation, enter markets or buy
fuel, they have to submit a scan called facial recognition scan. Residents in
that Muslim populated area must download a software application in order for
the government to monitor the content of the messages in the resident’s phones.
Not just that, but the authorities also come to an extend of collecting data in
terms of biometric such as fingerprints, DNA, eye scans and many more. When it
comes to knives purchasing by the Uighurs, the data such as purchaser
identification is embedded into the blades and this acts as QR codes. For
residents with suspicious face recognition, the software will alert the
government as well as the authorities involved when this suspicious individual
enters area 300 meters from the approved areas
3.4.3 The
Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has also passed a law to formalize the
Sinicization program
The
Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have passed down a law in order to implement a
program called Sinicization program which comes with a goal to bring Islam
closer to traditional Chinese culture. This is in order to make Islam becomes
at sync with socialism. Some of the government’s effort in order to make this
program lively is by banning the head scarf, fasting during Ramadhan and many
more. Any associations with Islam will be banned as the government came with a
list of banned names. In the year of 2014, a regulating has been passed by Xinjiang
in order for religion teaching in schools to be banned as well as prohibition
of the Halal word when being used on food. The children are also banned from
activities that are considered as religious and this applies for at home as
well. The Old Town in Kashgar which was previously known for its Central Asian
Architecture and Islamic traditions was rebuild by the government of China.
Previously, there was a mosque in the Old Town which is then converted into a
lounge
3.5 RECOMMENDATION
3.5.1 Security in the city should be
tightened
On
30th April 2014, knife attacks and bombings took place in the city
of Ürümqi, Xinjiang in China
3.5.2
Encourage innovative cyber security solutions
Due
to the development of technology in this era, national defence organizations
need to implement new plans in reforming cyber security. By implementing a new
plan in renewing cyber security, it could help the police and military be able
to detect terrorists more quickly and accurately. In addition, citizens in a
country also play an important role in helping the authorities by not posting
anything on social media about the country's political developments. If the
citizens do so, it encourages war to take place because terrorists know the
political developments of the country. If governments want to create savings
and efficiencies rather than using digital, they need to go one step further
than criminals. The gang is smart and fast, once one path is blocked, they try
to find another path. Governments should be more agile, to come up with
innovative and cost-effective ways to curb cybercrime and frustrate their
motives by stealing country information silently and illegally. In creating a
safe digital environment for citizens and companies, governments can adopt
leading practices from the private sector and encourage employees to be more
aware to the virtual world
4.0 CONCLUSION
In
the aftermath of a disaster or terrorist incident, policy makers come under
intense political pressure to respond with measures intended to prevent the
event from occurring again. The policy impulse to do something by which is
usually meant something new under these circumstances is understandable, but it
is simply not true that doing something new is always better than doing
nothing. One of the things that government can do to improve the national defense and security system is where the government needs to constantly update
the new strategies to ensure the safety of the people is well maintained. In
some situations, improving citizen privacy can have the result of improving
their security and vice versa. For example, improvements in the quality of data
such as more complete and more accurate data used in identifying potential
terrorists are likely to increase security by enhancing the effectiveness of
information-based programs to identify terrorists and to decrease the adverse
consequences that may occur due to confidentiality violations for the vast
majority of innocent individuals
5.0
REFERENCES
BBC News. (2014, April 30).
Deadly China blast at Xinjiang railway station. BBC News. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-27225308.amp
Byman, D. L.,
& Saber, I. (2019). IS CHINA PREPARED FOR GLOBAL TERRORISM? XINJIANG AND
BEYOND. Brooking: The Brookings Institution.
Ferbrache, D.
(2016, May 2). Five ways for governments to tighten up cyber security.
Retrieved from home.kpmg: https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2016/05/five-ways-for-governments-to-tighten-up-cyber-security.html
France24, (2014, May 1).
Deadly attack at train station in restive western China. Retrieved on June 2,
2021 from https://www.france24.com/en/20140501-dead-attack-station-china-stabbing-bomb
Fuller, G. E. & Starr,
S. F. (n.d.). The Xinjiang Problem. Central Asia Caucasus Institute. Retrieved
on June 2, 2021 from https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/30301/01_Xinjiang_Problem.pdf
Gohel, S. M. (2014). The
“Seventh Stage” Of Terrorism in China. Combating Terrorism at West Point: CTC
Sentinel, Nov/Dec 2014, Vol. 7 (11). Retrieved on June 2, 2021 from https://ctc.usma.edu/the-seventh-stage-of-terrorism-in-china/
GGsbox. (2014,
May 2014). Urumqi car and bomb attack kills dozens. Retrieved from
www.theguardian.com: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/22/china-urumqi-car-bomb-attack-xinjiang
Martina, M. (2014, May 1). China blames religious
extremists for station bombing. Reuters. Retrieved on June 2, 2021 from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-xinjiang-blast-idUSBREA3T0HX20140501
News, B. (2021,
April 30). April 2014 Ürümqi attack. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_2014_%C3%9Cr%C3%BCmqi_attack
Press, A. t.
(2008). Protecting Individual Privacy in the Struggle Against Terrorists: A
Framework for Program Assessment (2008). Retrieved from www.nap.edu: https://www.nap.edu/read/12452/chapter/5
Tiezzi, S. (2014, May 2). China Confirms 3 Dead, 79 Injured in Urumqi Terrorist Attack. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2014/05/china-confirms-3-dead-79-injured-in-urumqi-terrorist-attack/
Wan, W. (2014, May 1). Train
station attack in restive region of China kills 3. The Washington Post.
Retrieved on June 2, 2021 from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/train-station-attack-in-restive-region-of-china-kills-3/2014/04/30/bbf7b9ce-d0d6-11e3-937f-d3026234b51c_story.html
Wilson, M. (2019, December 23). Chinese Uyghurs: International
Terrorists or a Terrorised Minority? Retrieved from Australian Outlook: https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/chinese-uyghurs-international-terrorists-or-terrorised-minority/
6.0 APPENDICES
Figure
1: The situation outside the railway station during the attack.
Figure 2: Heavily-armed soldiers deployed to control the area.
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