“With this much Western media in Beijing… some media sources who release negative news are dissidents, but they have not been brought under control.”
Translated from a July 17 article at China.com, Chinese anti-terrorism expert Li Wei discusses Beijing’s top 5 threats while still calling it “one of the safest cities in the world.” He also takes issue with stories from Western sources that have cast doubt on Beijing’s tactics…
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THE ARTICLE:
Day after day, one after another, several Western media sources have circulated a cold view of Beijing’s security measures, calling Beijing “nervous.” In response to this, a counter-terrorism authority from China’s Institute of Contemporary International Relations’ Graduate School of Strategic Studies, expert Li Wei, accepted an interview with a Xinhua reporter in which he said an open Beijing must also have security.
BEIJING IS STILL ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES IN THE WORLD
Some foreign experts point out that the 2008 Olympic Games are facing an unprecedented threat and the situation is more severe than for any other previous Olympics. Li Wei, however, disagrees. He believes that, although Beijing faces many threats, it is still one of the safest cities in the world. This can be attributed to two significant measures implemented by the Chinese government.
The first is that the Chinese government is always endeavoring to build the concepts of “harmonious society” and “harmonious world.” The second is that the Chinese government has done a large number of secret jobs to thwart every potential incident which could threaten the Olympics, even those still in the process of planning and preparation.
WHERE ARE THE “ENEMIES” ANYWAY?
So, where are the “enemies” of the Olympics? Li Wei thinks the following are the main forces:
1. East Turkistan*: Recently, there have been reports of terrorist incidents thwarted as actual preparations were being made; all of them have related to East Turkistan. Moreover, East Turkistan organizations continue to release videos depicting Oympic terrorist threats.
2. “Free Tibet” extremists: The “3.14” incident reflected violent tendencies. The “Tibetan Youth Congress” has indeed threatened that it wants to sacrifice 100 Tibetans in suicide attacks aimed at the Beijing Olympics.
3. “Fa Lun Gong”: In the past it has organized group self-immolation and food poisoning incidents. “Fa Lun Gong’s” uniqueness is that it is hard to know when they will begin to instigate destructive activities aimed at the Olympics.
4. The discontented individual: As China undergoes rapid development and a transitional stage, it is inevitable that large social contradictions will arise. It cannot be ruled out that some people will follow the example and methods of foreign terrorist activity in retaliating against society. Namely, the recently arisen Weng’an incident**, the attacks on police in Shanghai***, and other extreme events, raise alarm.
5. International terrorist forces: These forces have a very strong capability to launch attacks, and the difficulty for anti-terrorism is extremely large.
AN OPEN BEIJING ALSO NEEDS SECURITY
One by one, Li refutes remarks made by the foreign press which cast doubt on the security monitoring system of the Olympics.
Comments from the French TV station BFM: The Beijing Olympics focus excessively on the security monitoring system, which in reality does nothing to increase people’s sense of security, while making the public nervous.
Li said: It is the Western press who is nervous, not Chinese people. The central government explains the special security measures to the public and most of the measures are designed to deal with the enemies. As a result, the public would not feel nervous.
Agence France-Press recently quoted some human rights organizations’ words: The security measures of Beijing Olympics “strengthen the governmental control towards dissidents, which is incompatible with the idea of a ‘harmonious Olympics.’”
Regarding the comment, Li thinks that there is no conlict between an open Beijing and its security. Emphasizing security is not equal to being not open. If the purpose is to try to destroy Olympic dissidents, then definitely, restrictions are necessary. But, if it is only those who have different outlooks, there is no acceptable control. With this much Western media in Beijing, to some extent, some media sources who release negative news are dissidents, but they have not been brought under control.
The German Die Zeit said: The hosting country’s nerves have already tightened to their limit. The article quoted the Beijing Branch of the German Chamber of Commerce’s Chairman Hausman as saying: “These anxieties are excessive; so far these concerns have never become reality.”
Li believes that such comments are ultimately irresponsible. If Beijing’s worries become a reality, it’s too late.
Alluding to a recently uncovered Urumqi terrorist organization, the BBC quoted US Congress human rights caucus**** members’ statements condemning the handling of this incident as “abuses of due process and the rule of law.”
In response to this, Li Wei advises that any reproach should very much take into account a study of American and British anti-terrorism laws. In terms of suspicious people, they can detain them under conditions of no evidence. Furthermore, all of China’s actions irrefutably occur under conditions of evidence.
Lastly, Li argues that the security measures aim not only to protect Beijing citizens, as some German media has said, but also, more importantly, to protect all members of the Olympic family. ❑
— Translated by Chris
ORIGINAL STORY: 反恐专家谈安保:北京奥运的“敌人”究竟在哪里
EDITOR’S NOTES:
* East Turkistan is the name used by Xinjiang separatists when referring to the territory.
** Weng’an: For more on the Weng’an “mass incident,” see a summary at EastSouthWestNorth blog.
*** Shanghai: see AP and Reuters reports of a recent deadly stabbing of 5 police officers. This past week, hundreds of migrants attacked a police station near Shanghai — see Shanghai Daily’s report.
**** Translation uncertain: possibly, the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights.
