China’s Growing Fear: Understanding the ETIM Terrorist Threat

China views the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) as a major threat, prompting the nation to seek international intervention. During a UN meeting on August 20, China urged immediate measures to counter the terrorist group, citing the potential for widespread devastation from the Middle East to South Asia if ETIM is left unchecked. Geng Shuang, China’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, emphasized the reactivation of thousands of ETIM terrorists in Syria and their potential to unleash terror. ETIM, founded by Hasan Mahsum in the 1990s, seeks to establish an independent Turkestan, and has roots in aiding Uyghurs in China. Initially supported by al-Qaeda, the group received training from Osama bin Laden and was subsequently subject to international sanctions in 2002. After the killing of its founder and his successor by China, the group continued its operations in secret. Between 2008 and 2014, ETIM orchestrated a series of attacks within China, leading to numerous casualties and causing widespread fear. The recent resurgence of the group in Syria is particularly concerning, as it potentially endangers multiple countries. The presence of a large Uyghur population in Xinjiang province and surrounding areas adds to the complexity, especially considering the potential implications for China’s Belt and Road Initiative.