ISIS released a video threatening violence and bloodshed in Xinjiang. (Photo : Getty Images)
Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants have sent a video threatening China that they will come home and resort to extremist activities that will lead to the death of many.
The half-hour video was released by a division based in western Iraq. The material was assessed by the U.S. Site Intelligence Group (SITE).
The extremists swore that they will "shed blood like rivers."
Muslim militants have been blamed for violent attacks in Xinjiang, the base of Uyghur separatists, who have been in an armed struggle for independence from China.
The SITE interpreted the video and the message conveyed: "Oh, you Chinese who do not understand what people say! We are the soldiers of the caliphate, and we will come to you to clarify to you with the tongues of our weapons, to shed blood like rivers and avenging the oppressed."
Geng Shuang, spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry said, "East Turkestan terrorist forces have been posing a severe threat to China's security."
The Muslims in the autonomous region of Uyghur have been fighting against discrimination from the Chinese.
They have been told by the government to practice "Islam with Muslim characteristics."
According to Dr. Michael Clarke from the Australian National University's National Security College, "The Chinese state hasn't helped itself," says Clarke. "There's a whole range of factors that can push elements of the Uighur population towards greater radicalization."
He commented on the video, adding, "It is the first time that Uyghur-speaking militants have claimed allegiance to IS."
The expert on Xinjiang affairs noted that China is now a "direct target of jihadist rhetoric". He suspects that there must be a rift between the Uyghur fighters.
A portion of the video was also threatening punishment to militants who supported the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria.
