China says international counterterror forum a success
China says it concluded a counterterrorism forum
last week in Beijing that attracted representatives from the military and
police forces of 31 nations, including France, Pakistan and Israel.
Defense Ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said
Thursday the four-day Great Wall 2019 International Forum on Counterterrorism
allowed participants to exchange strategies and experiences.
China has been accused of using terrorism
accusations to justify crackdowns on peaceful protests and religious cultural
activities, especially among minority groups such as Tibetans and Uighurs.
An estimated 1 million Uighurs and members of other
Muslim minority groups such as Kazakhs are held in detention centers amid
reports of harsh treatment and poor living conditions. China says they are
training schools meant to teach life skills to those at risk of being recruited
by Islamic extremists.
