China has expressed « grave concern » over reports that ISIS has killed two Chinese teachers kidnapped in Pakistan.
« China resolutely opposes all forms of kidnapping of civilians and opposes all forms of terrorism and extreme acts of violence, » said Hua Chunying, the spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement on Friday.
The deaths underscore the risks of China’s growing international reach and influence. The Global Times, a state-run tabloid, said that guarding Chinese nationals overseas had become a new and serious challenge for national security.
« As China’s international influence is growing, terrorist organizations target Chinese for ransom or just to create a sensation. Cases of Chinese being kidnapped have increased, » the paper said in an editorial.
INTERACTIVE: China’s new world order
Chinese nationals have settled in Pakistan in greater numbers since the announcement of a $46 billion investment plan known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in 2015 — part of China’s One Belt One Road initiative.
« Given Pakistan’s complex security situation, both sides need to study and formulate a more comprehensive security plan to fully cover Chinese in Pakistan, » the Global Times added.
