US, China hold counterterrorism talks

The US and China are holding talks on advancing their still-limited cooperation on counterterrorism.

Washington, Oct 25: The US and China are holding talks on advancing their still-limited cooperation on counterterrorism.

The State Department said the two sides were discussing today regional terrorist threats, aviation security, information sharing, border security, safeguarding human rights, and countering violent extremism.

The US side is led by the department's acting coordinator for counterterrorism Justin Siberell. China's delegation is led by its Foreign Affairs Assistant Minister Li Huilai.

The dialogue has been held annually since 2014, but faces criticism from human rights groups. China blames a spike in militant attacks in its restive far west on a group called the Turkestan Islamic Movement.

Rights groups say China plays up the threat of militancy by its ethnic Uighur minority to justify abusive law-enforcement policies and religious restrictions.

AP