China is deeply concerned about the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). At a UN meeting on August 20, China requested urgent action to counter the group, warning of potential widespread devastation across the Middle East and South Asia. According to reports, China’s Deputy Permanent Representative Geng Shuang highlighted the regrouping of thousands of ETIM terrorists in Syria. ETIM’s origins trace back to the 1990s, when Hasan Mahsum established it in Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the goal of creating a separate Turkestan. The group has been linked to al-Qaeda and received training under Osama bin Laden’s supervision. International sanctions were imposed on ETIM in 2002. China eliminated key leaders in the early 2000s. From 2008 to 2014, ETIM carried out multiple attacks in China, resulting in a significant number of fatalities and injuries. China has expressed worry about ETIM’s recent reemergence in Syria, which could destabilize nations in the Middle East and South Asia. With the Uyghur population in Xinjiang province, China faces a major security challenge if unrest occurs. The Belt and Road project could be affected if instability arises in Xinjiang.
ETIM: The Terrorist Group Haunting China
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