‘Fighting Terrorism According to Law’

Abstract

This chapter provides a detailed perspective on the evolution and rationale of the legal architecture supporting China’s counter-terrorism strategy as it has developed over the past two decades, including the development of China’s Counter-Terrorism Law in 2015. It argues that the legislative underpinnings of China’s counter-terrorism policy have been driven by the CCP’s perception that: (i) counter-terrorism decisions needed to be incorporated into law; (ii) relevant laws and penalties needed to be integrated into a cohesive whole; and (iii) organizations in charge of combating terrorism required a clear framework delineating their responsibilities and various powers to act. In practice, China’s counter-terrorism approach is framed by the CCP’s perception of it as, in the first instance, emanating from both Xinjiang and Islam. Thus, China has focused part of its strategy on efforts to deter or prevent ‘religious extremism’ through censorship of information, detecting terrorist financing, and greater cooperation with international partners