Fight terrorism jointly

Zhu Sumei

China has been actively participating in the global war on terrorism ever since the Sept 11, 2001, attacks on the US. Recently, with the rise and expansion of the Islamic State, China has deepened cooperation with the international community within the framework of the UN, sending a message yet again that the global fight against terrorism should be within the framework of the UN.

For that purpose, cooperation must be strengthened in the following areas. Information exchange is the first, but it has not seen much development because of trust deficits among countries. Collecting big data, nevertheless, has become an indispensable part of the fight against terrorism. Getting comprehensive data on terrorist organizations, including their daily activities, to analyze their strategies is an effective way of fighting terrorism.

Financial cooperation is another effective way to strengthen the fight. The IS group has become such a menace because of the continuous funding it receives from the outside world. For that reason, the UN Security Council passed a resolution in February requiring UN members to cut the funding channels like illegal oil trade, antique smuggling and donations.

In response to the UN call, China has been trying to cut the channels within its border. It has also signed bilateral memorandums with several countries to prevent money laundering through banks and funding of terrorists.

More important, China and the US could sign a memorandum that includes details like training and effective mechanisms. Considering the economic power of the two countries combined, it will deal a fatal blow to the IS funding channels.

The author is a professor at the University of International Relations in Beijing.