Beijing pledges to join U.S. to fight terrorism

By Willy Wo-Lap Lam
Senior China Analyst

(CNN) -- Beijing has pledged to join the United States in fighting terrorism.

However, Chinese intellectuals have continued to link the attacks on New York and Washington with America's "quasi-hegemonic" policies. In a telephone conversation with counterpart George W. Bush Wednesday, Chinese President Jiang Zemin said China was ready to "strengthen dialogue and cooperation with the U.S. and the international community in combating all manners of terrorist violence."

Jiang said he hoped the foreign ministers and United Nations representatives of both countries would strengthen consultation on this matter.

The Xinhua news agency quoted Bush as saying he looked forward to working with Jiang and other world leaders in cracking down on global terrorism.

Jiang also offered China's help in the rescue operations in New York.

And Chinese police have beefed up security of U.S. missions throughout China.

'Retribution'

However, a sizeable number of postings on Chinese internet forums were not sympathetic toward the U.S.

A writer to the People's Daily net forum said the terrorist attacks were "retribution for the many misdeeds of the country."

Another said "the U.S. military establishment" was the real perpetrator of terrorism.

Noted Chinese expert on terrorism Qiao Liang said the U.S. government should engage in "self-reflection" on why the terrorist attacks had occurred.

"There is a cause and effect relationship between the policies of the U.S. government and the increase of terrorism," Qiao said.

Qiao cited a series of "unilateral, hegemonic" actions of the U.S., including the deployment of a national missile defense system.

"One country's security cannot be built upon the basis of other countries' insecurity," he said.

Western diplomats said senior Politburo members and their advisers had on Wednesday made thorough assessment of the impact of the terrorist acts on China.

"A key concern of the Chinese leadership is how Beijing should react should Bush take military action against Afghanistan or other countries said to harbor terrorists," a Western diplomat said.

Recently, Beijing signed a memorandum on economic and technical cooperation with the Taliban administration in Kabul.