BEIJING: As the ruling Communist Party begins preparation for a key national congress next month, China has stepped up security on its borders with India, North Korea, and Myanmar. The Chinese border police forces under the People's Armed Police is the latest government agency to support President Xi Jinping. The forces will tighten monitoring of coastal areas and ramp up counter-terrorism work. The police released a statement saying, “(We will) stick to the highest standards, strictest requirements and strongest measures to ensure absolute border security for the party's 19th national congress.”
Meanwhile, restive province Xianjing that shares borders with Pakistan occupied Kashmir, and Afghanistan, has remained absent from the statement. Reports from the region said police have erected body scanners at road check posts to prevent any violent attacks by the separatist East Turkistan Islamic Movement. Senior analyst and Asian security expert at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Malcolm Davis said, “Leading into the party congress, they want to seem to be successful, increasing their political strength and being proactive in dealing with these security situations.”
Chinese politics specialist Zhang Baohui said that even though offshore conflicts were unlikely to pose any real danger to the congress, the police must declare their determination to stamp out risk. “They all have to do something to show they're doing their best for the 19th national congress. It's a way to show loyalty.” Starting on October 18, the congress is expected to see Xi named the party's general secretary for a second term. Security personnel have been out in force across the country to make sure the highly-choreographed gathering is not disturbed by social unrest.
The build-up comes amid ethnic clashes in Myanmar and the nuclear crisis on the Korean peninsula. South Korea expects more provocative acts by North next month. In a meeting with South Korea President Moon Jae-in, national security adviser Chung Eui-yong said he expected Pyongyang to act around October 10 and 18, but gave no details. “Ties between India and China have also been tested by a border row in the Himalayas,” the Post report said.
