2750340607_0848e84b3a_z.jpg (Photo : Flickr )
Illegal border crossings will be the subject of intensive scrutiny over the next period, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.
The ministry specifically responded to the Global Times' reporting of a Nov. 2014 terrorism-related arrest, in which nine members of the Chinese Uyghur ethnic minority were intercepted trying to leave China from the eastern Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
In addition to the nine arrests, 10 Turkish associates and two Chinese citizens were also detained, as the 12 individuals have been accused of aiding the group of Uyghurs. The Turkic-speaking, Muslim Uyghur ethnic minority is originally from the western Chinese region of Xinjiang, where claims of persecution and poverty now coexist with a government anti-terrorism operation that began around six months ago.
According to the Global Times report, Shanghai police managed to elicit information from the nine Uyghurs who revealed they each paid 60,000 yuan ($10,000) to leave the country. An additional $2,000 was incurred by each of the detainees for visas, which were obtained through the submission of fake invitation letters to the Chinese Embassy in Turkey.
Furthermore, an investigation of the Uyghurs' phones uncovered terrorism-related videos, and, according to the state newspaper, some of the group admitted that Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan were on their travel schedules. Organizing, leading, and participating in terrorist organizations have been included in their charge profiles.
Meanwhile, the 10 Turkish people were arrested for facilitating illegal border crossings, while further information was not provided in regard to the pair of Chinese nationals.
The foreign ministry made no further comment in relation to the news report.
