Topic: 2025 – Reducing Recruitment Capabilities of Terrorist Groups
Country: China
Delegate Name: Ananya Arulmurugan
Disarmament and International Security Committee
Reducing the Recruitment Capabilities of Terrorist Groups
People’s Republic of China
Ananya Arulmurugan
Terrorism is a serious issue that has influenced global security, politics, and international cooperation in history, with it especially becoming prevalent over the past two decades. Major attacks all over the world have caused mass civilian deaths, coups against governments, and international conflicts. Even beyond that, terrorism remains a massive issue that pervades all aspects of life, including economies, populations, and society. One thing that enables many terrorists to continue their actions is their continuous recruitment capabilities. This is why reducing those recruitment capabilities is a vital part of counter-terrorism efforts. This is because it targets the way these violent groups and organizations gain new members and expand their operations. Preventing that recruitment not only weakens terrorist groups, but it also protects vulnerable communities like the youth, who are often susceptible to joining terrorist organizations. The United Nations has taken actions to address this, such as the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in 2006. This emphasizes addressing the conditions that cause terrorism, including poverty, political exclusion, and the lack of education. Furthermore, various Security Council resolutions have called for member states to criminalize recruitment. Terrorist organizations have also adapted to become more persistent, resorting to digital platforms to spread their messages. Impeding this recruitment is an essential part of protecting international peace.
The People’s Republic of China recognizes the importance of this issue and has taken steps to address this. Within China, there have been cases of domestic terrorism, specifically in the Xianjing region. There, radicals have attempted to exploit locals to build increased support for violence and destruction. As a result of this, there have been many instances of attacks on civilians, government institutions, and public spaces. China views the solutions to these attacks as not only a legal matter, but something that stems from poverty, lack of education, and social isolation. Legally, China has implemented counter terrorism legislation like the Counter Terrorism Law of 2015, which criminalized the spread of extremist ideas and increased monitoring of extremist groups. Programs in sensitive regions like Xianjing include vocational education and community-based security measures, all aimed at preventing radicalization before it affects people. Internationally, China supports all the United Nations’ attempts to stop terrorist recruitment by backing resolutions that aim to combat it. China also participates in initiatives such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which enhances intelligence coordination and includes training programs to counter recruitment. Throughout all of this, the People’s Republic of China strongly upholds the principles of individual sovereignty, as the way each country deals with terrorism must be up to them.
While addressing these issues in the United Nations, the People’s Republic of China believes that it is imperative to continue to contextualize the actions of extremist groups by the surrounding conditions that cause them. Terrorism cannot be solved without countering the social, economic, and political reasons that lie beneath it. Reducing poverty, increasing education, and providing employment opportunities are all valuable ways to address the root causes of terrorism. Member states of the United Nations should criminalize terrorist recruitment, prevent terrorists from moving, and increase information sharing regarding terrorism. Furthermore, Increased coordination among nations can combat online radicalization and harm terrorist networks. Examples of counter-terrorism initiatives can be found in the Chinese region of Xianjing, where the People’s Republic of China has effectively combined legal repercussions with humanitarian programs, which can promote long-term stability in terrorism susceptible regions. It is also of utmost importance to China that individual sovereignty and no interference policies are respected throughout this entire process, as each individual member state is most adept at addressing the issues that lie within its own country. By combining these strategies with collaborative efforts across the international stage, the People’s Republic of China believes that the United Nations can limit the recruitment capabilities of terrorist groups and promote international security and peace.
