War on Terrorism

A series of terrorist attacks in downtown Paris on November 13 left at least 132 dead. The terrorist attacks dealt a heavy blow to the French capital and shocked the entire world. Landmark buildings around the world turned on red， white and blue lights to symbolize the French national flag and mourn those who lost their lives in the attacks.

The Chinese Government has expressed strong condemnation of the terrorist attacks and offered its deep condolences to the dead and injured.

The serial attacks in Paris are the most serious ones in the West since the September 11 terrorist attack in 2001. Its hard to tell what influence the event will have on France， Europe and the world as a whole. However， one thing is clear： Terrorism is a common threat faced by everyone. To crack down on terrorism， close international cooperation is particularly important. The most recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut have again rung the alarm bell for the world， and a new round of anti-terrorism efforts is urgently needed.

France has long been a primary target for Islamic extremist groups because the county has the largest number and proportion of Muslims in Europe. So far， more than 1，500 Muslims in France have joined the Islamic State （ISIS） and other terrorist groups， many of whom have returned to France. This means it is much easier for terrorist groups like ISIS to launch attacks in France than in the United States or the UK.

Terrorist attacks in Europe have not abated over the years. The coordinated suicide bomb attacks on the London transit system on July 7， 2005， and the murder of 77 people by Anders Breivik， in Norway in 2011 serve as examples.

China is also a victim of terrorism. In recent years， the “East Turkistan” terrorists have launched multiple terrorist attacks and caused major casualties. The attacks are a major source of safety threats not just to China but also the international community at large.

In the latest development， the Foreign Ministry confirmed on November 19 that a Chinese citizen， a freelance consultant from Beijing， was killed by ISIS while in custody as a hostage.

In the face of terrorism， the international community should strengthen its cooperation under the United Nations framework， form a united front against terrorism and step up anti-terrorism efforts. China has always opposed terrorism of any form and will support the international community in fighting these attacks and safeguarding security and stability.