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http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-08/02/content_6898852.htm

“Xinjiang official vows to crack down on terrorists”
By Wu Jiao (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-02 07:37

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Authorities in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region are confident they will foil any terrorist plots against the Beijing Olympics, a top regional official said on Friday.

“We have done a lot to deal with terrorists, especially the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) in the past years,” Kurexi Maihesuti, vice-chairman of the regional government, said.

“We are resolved to thwart any terrorist activities and nip them in the bud,” he told a press conference at the Beijing International Media Center.

Terrorist groups, the ETIM in particular, have threatened to attack Olympic venues.

Ma Zhenchuan, director of the security command of the Beijing Games, warned earlier that the ETIM poses a real threat because investigations show it has been plotting terror attacks on Olympic venues.”

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_4180.html

THIS IS A SNIPPET. To read the entire text, click on the link below.

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http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1762.html

Olympics 2008 Fact Sheet (China)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Bureau of Consular Affairs

The XXIXth Olympic Summer Games and the Beijing Paralympic Summer Games will take place from August 8-24, 2008, and September 6-17, 2008, respectively. There are seven major venue sites, six outside of Beijing, including Hong Kong, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Tianjin. Equestrian events will be held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao. Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Tianjin will host the soccer preliminaries.

The Beijing Organizing Committee for the 29th Olympiad Games (BOCOG) website provides additional information on the XXIXth Olympic Summer Games, including information on hotel accommodations, tickets, transportation, and advice for spectators. Please see the Beijing Paralympic Summer Games website for information regarding those games. The U.S. Embassy’s Beijing Olympics website and the CDC travelers’ health website provide additional information to American citizens planning to travel to China or Hong Kong SAR to see or participate in the Games.

Many U.S. citizens will be traveling to the Olympics this summer. If you plan on being in China for events in August or September, early preparation is the key. Please review carefully the information presented here.

Security Assessment:

THREAT LEVELS : Any large-scale public event such as the upcoming Olympic Games may present terrorists with an attractive target. There is no reason to believe that U.S. citizens are being targeted at this time. However an attempt to create an explosion on a passenger plane in flight from western China’s Xinjiang Province to Beijing in early March is a good example of how potentially dangerous events can occur in the run-up to the Olympics. U.S. citizens planning travel to China should regularly check www.travel.state.gov for updated travel warnings, alerts or cautions. U.S. citizens planning to attend Olympic events or to participate in any large-scale public gatherings during the Olympic Games are advised to use caution and to be alert to their surroundings at all times. In most major metropolitan areas, the Chinese authorities employ an overwhelming police/security presence. Protestors must receive an official permit from municipal authorities prior to being allowed to gather.

CRIME: Major metropolitan areas in China are relatively safe, especially in comparison with similar sized cities in other developing countries. A sizeable law enforcement and security presence serves as an effective deterrent against most types of crime, including those of a violent nature. Nevertheless, the Mission assesses that while the overall crime threat is low, the number of criminal incidents, including those directed against Americans, continues to rise.

Travelers are strongly encouraged to be aware of their surroundings while in China. Continued vigilance is necessary to reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of crime. As a general rule, lesser developed areas in major cities have a higher rate of crime. Statistically, more crimes of opportunity transpire during early morning hours; for example, individuals who frequent bars, nightclubs, and similar establishments are more likely to be involved in physical altercations after midnight.