SCO joint anti-cyber terrorism exercise held in Xiamen

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Member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) have gathered in southeast China’s coastal city of Xiamen for a joint counter-terrorism cyber exercise. SCO delegates and the group's anti-cyber terrorism body took part in the drill.

The exercise simulates a scenario in which terrorist groups use the Internet and social networks to spread terrorism, separatism, and extremism. They are also trying to recruit members from the SCO countries.

Chinese delegates take part in the joint anti-cyber terrorism exercise held on December 6, 2017, Xiamen. /CGTN Photo

Shi Jun, China's vice minister of public security, said terrorist groups continue to use the Internet to spread violent and extremist ideas, and they also help teach related skills and expand recruitment channels.

Shi added that that terrorism has severely threatened world peace and security, and has become one of the most important threats to detect, prevent and strike against.

Kyrgyz delegates take part in the joint anti-cyber terrorism exercise held on December 6, 2017, Xiamen. /CGTN Photo

The previous – and also the first – SCO anti-cyber terrorism exercise was held in October 2015, also in Xiamen. Since then, SCO member states have worked more closely on sharing intelligence, investigating incidents, and building capacity.

Yevgeniy Sysoyev, director of the Executive Committee of the SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, said advanced technology will help build effective mechanisms to counter new challenges and threats.

He told CGTN that over the past decade, they have been working to establish a unified legal basis, and coordinate efforts to strike against cyber terrorism. Besides, they set up an expert team in September 2013 to help share and exchange information.

SCO delegates and its anti-cyber terrorism body attend the drill held on December 6, 2017, Xiamen. /CGTN Photo

The SCO is now composed of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan and India. This is the first exercise with India and Pakistan as full members since they joined the platform in June. The bloc is the world's largest regional cooperation organization in terms of area and population.

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