A wary China on Thursday said it will work with the international community to fight terrorism after Islamic State fighters from Uighur ethnic minority in troubled Xinjiang vowed to return home and "shed blood like rivers".
"I want to emphasise that in recent years the East Turkestan terrorist forces represented by the ETIM (East Turkistan Islamic Movement) are sending fighters to conflict zones and strengthening their collusion with international terrorist forces, posing severe danger to security and stability of relevant countries and the region," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told the media.
"We are ready to work with the international community to continue fighting the East Turkestan terrorist forces," he said without elaborating.
He said ETIM, which China blames for spate of violent attacks in Xinjiang and other provinces, pose a grave threat on security and stability of China and the region.
"We will work with the international community in jointly fighting East Turkestan terrorist forces," he said.