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BEIJING: China on Thursday assured foreign tourists
they would be safe during the Beijing Olympics in August, following
an incident in which a Chinese assailant took 10 Australians
hostage.
“Especially on the occasion of
the Beijing Olympics, there will be a number of foreign tourists in
Beijing and we will definitely carry out more effective measures in
this regard,” foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters.
Qin was responding to questions
on the potential impact of Wednesday’s incident, in which a
Chinese man armed with explosives hijacked a tourist bus in the city
of Xi’an, taking 10 Australian tourists and a translator hostage.
Police shot and killed the man
after nine of the Australians had been released, an Australian
embassy official and Chinese media reported.
No one else was hurt in the
incident.
“Compared with other countries,
China is a safer destination for foreign tourists and we will
continue to provide a sound and safe environment for foreigners to
work, study, live and travel in,” Qin said.
He denied the case was an
embarrassment as China prepared for the Games, which authorities
hope will serve as a showcase for the country’s rising clout.
China is expected to launch a
massive security operation to ensure no disruptions to the Games,
which are expected to attract 500,000 foreign visitors.
Chinese police have so far
released no details of the hijacker’s potential motives or
demands.
Xi’an is one of China’s most
popular tourist destinations, with the main attraction being the
Terracotta Army, a collection of more than 8,000 life-size figures
dating back to around 200 BC.
Taking hostages, especially
foreigners, is rare in China.
--AFP
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