BEIJING - China on Thursday reiterated its firm opposition to terrorism and its resolution to fight terrorism in all forms.

"We are opposed to a double standard while combating terrorism. Linking the actions of a very small group of extremists with China's national and religious policy, or even using it as an excuse to attack China's policies, was extremely wrong and has ulterior motives," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.

Hua made the comments in response to a question regarding the World Uyghur Congress' attack on China's religion policies following a deadly car crash in central Beijing on Monday.

Police on Wednesday identified the crash at Tian'anman Square as a terrorist attack, in which three people in the vehicle and two tourists, including a Philippine female, were killed and 38 others were injured.

Usmen Hasan, his mother, Kuwanhan Reyim, and his wife, Gulkiz Gini, drove a jeep with a Xinjiang plate to crash into a crowd of people. They died after they set gasoline inside the vehicle on fire, according to the Beijing police, which said the attack was "carefully planned, organized and premeditated." Five suspects in connection with the attack have been detained.

"This terrorist attack, targeting civilians and tourists, is against humanity, society and civilization. Anyone with a conscience would strongly condemn it," Hua said at a routine press briefing on Thursday.

She said China is opposed to linking terrorism to any specific country or religion.

China is a country ruled by law, she said. "The Chinese government protects the legal rights of people of all ethnic groups, including their freedom of religious belief in accordance with law."

Severely punishing terrorists according to the law is a necessity to respect the dignity of the law, maintain social order and protect fundamental human rights, she said.

No responsible country would tolerate violence and terrorists, Hua added.

She called on the international community and media to have a clear understanding of the terrorist nature of the "East Turkistan" forces and their attempts to split China.