Legal weapons against terrorist crimes

Thirteen people were executed, three sentenced to death and five jailed on Monday in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for terrorist attacks and violent crimes.

Xinjiang is the main battlefront of China's year of concerted anti-terror campaigning, which was launched after a bombing attack on May 22 in the regional capital Urumqi killed 39 people and injured 94 others.

These crimes are not tolerated in any civilized country nor by any ethnic group. To fight such crime, China must mobilize all the people and use all legal weapons to deal a crushing blow. The dignity of law is not to be trampled, and the people's interest not to be encroached. Only the rule of law will protect the people from the bloody agenda of terror.

Anyone, who breaks the law, threatens life or property, any separatists, will be severely punished. Victory of the law against violence is the wish of all people.

President Xi Jinping has called for "nets spread from the earth to the sky" and "walls made of bronze and steel" to defend Xinjiang, stressing long-term stability as the main goal for the region.

A "People's war" is needed in China's combat against terrorist crimes. Three knife attackers at a chess and card room were seized by civilians and police in Hotan Prefecture in southern Xinjiang on Sunday. Terrorists are the enemies of all people, and will be deterred by "People's war."

International cooperation and an anti-terror law are also needed. The battle will be persistent and complicated, but Chinese people of all ethnic groups will fight, united, to the end.