Efforts to eliminate extremism should be lauded

Extremism that fosters terrorism breeds and infests under certain conditions. So to suppress terrorism, we also need to eliminate the conditions conducive to the spread of extremist ideology, which calls for long-term, arduous, all-around efforts.

Both resolution 72/246 and resolution 37/27, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 and 2018 respectively, noted that there are a number of drivers underlying radicalization to terrorism and conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. Also the UN's Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism pointed out that prevention should be made an integral part of a comprehensive approach to tackle many of the underlying conditions that drive individuals to join violent extremist groups. Albeit that will require long-term and patient engagement and results may not be immediately visible. To counter terrorism and extremism in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the Chinese government has paid equal attention to preemptive and counter-measures, with the preemptive measures aimed at eliminating the driving factors and conditions conducive to nurturing terrorism and violent extremism.

First of all, China has proactively acted to eliminate poverty and improve people's livelihoods so as to wipe out the soil fomenting violent extremism. An integrated subsistence allowance system covering urban and rural areas has been established and improved with transfer payments from the Chinese central government. Job opportunities have increased with assistance from partner cities and policies to encourage employment. Old buildings have been renovated and living conditions improved through a renovation program subsidized by the government. In addition, local leading cadres have partnered with distressed households in rural areas to offer one-to-one assistance so the households can cast off poverty.