Policy Alert #185 | March 22, 2019

On March 15, an Australian-born, white-supremacist attacked two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. The death toll stands at fifty, with dozens more still in hospital with injuries. In addition to the scope of casualties, the gunman live-streamed the assault on Facebook, and the video quickly spread across other social media platforms despite efforts to remove it. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern condemned the attack and called for unity: “What has happened in Christchurch is an extraordinary act of unprecedented violence. It has no place in New Zealand. Many of those affected will be members of our migrant communities – New Zealand is their home – they are us.” In this RPI Policy Alert, we review the Rising Powers’ responses to the attack.

 

CHINA

At a press conference, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang explained China’s response to the attack: “China condemns this incident. We express our condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured. On March 15, President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang sent messages of condolences to New Zealand Governor-General Patsy Reddy and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern respectively […] State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also expressed condolences to New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters.”

The attack in Christchurch came just days after the United States Department of State published its 2018 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, in which China faced harsh criticism, especially for its treatment of Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In his remarks on the release of the reports, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo commented that China was “in a league of its own when it comes to human rights violations.” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang rebuked the allegations: “China firmly opposes such groundless accusations and has made stern representations with the US side.” The State Council Information Office published a white paper titled “The Fight Against Terrorism and Extremism and Human Rights Protection in Xinjiang” on March 19.

• The state-owned China Daily published several editorials following the shooting. Regarding the spread of the video of the attack, the Daily advocated for more control of online content: “Internet providers, the online platforms and governments must work together as a matter of urgency to tackle the toxicity festering on the web to prevent more atrocities in the future.” The Daily also tied the attack to “China’s contribution to international anti-terrorism efforts” through its activities in Xinjiang: “The tragedy in New Zealand should remind countries that they should look within themselves and take action to prevent divisions forming along racial, ethnic or religious lines. Hate speech of any kind should not be tolerated, and hate crimes should be severely punished.” The Daily further condemned the rise of white supremacy in Western countries: “The attacks in New Zealand are only the latest testimony to the social and ideological splits that have become evident in Western countries. If they continue to indulge anti-immigration and anti-Muslim sentiments and allow intolerance and ethno-nationalism to ferment, such violent acts will only become more frequent, especially since the attacks were broadcast live on social media via wearable cameras attached to the attackers.”
• The nationalist Global Times similarly had lots to say on the shooting. The Times hailed China’s regulation of internet content: “China is one of the countries that has made a firm resolution on internet governance in recent years. […] Which country does a better job will be tested by its internet economy’s achievements and comprehensive fulfillment of the nation’s economic and social development.” The Global Times published two additional editorials that claimed the terrorist attack “exposed Western flaws” and symptomatic of “taking Western superiority for granted.”
• The independent South China Morning Post focused instead on New Zealand’s gun laws, noting that despite changes in regulations following shootings in Australia and Scotland in 1996, “successive governments have since failed to substantially improve safety and, in the wake of the massacre, efforts have to be renewed.”

 

INDIA

The Ministry of External Affairs reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “expressed his deepest condolences to the families bereaved in this dastardly attack, offered heartfelt prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured and underscored India’s solidarity with the friendly people of New Zealand at this difficult time” in a letter to Prime Minister Ardern. Prime Minister Modi further “stressed India’s strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and of all those who support such acts of violence,” which seemed to tie the attack to the suicide bombing in Indian Kashmir region last month.

• The left-leaning Hindu saw the attack as a warning of the rise of right-wing nationalism: “Societies worldwide should wake up to the growing danger right-wing racist terrorism poses, and not view it as mere isolated, irrational responses to Islamist terror. It has to be fought politically, by driving a counter-narrative to white supremacism, and by using the security apparatus, through allocation of enough resources to tackle all threats of violence.”
• The pro-government Daily Pioneer condemned the attack, and offered a moment of self-reflection on how India handles acts of terror on its own soil: “Terror has no religion and anyone who wants to kill innocents on the streets, in schools and in religious places has to be labelled a terrorist, no matter what his motivation. [..T]he concept of acting on behalf of ‘my people’, as the gunman said he was doing, must also be condemned. As India knows too well, terrorism exists because of the apologia of political leaders and the law turning a blind eye.”
• The center-right Times of India hailed Prime Minister Ardern’s response to the attack in contrast to Prime Minister Modi’s Janus-faced behavior: “Ardern has embraced the migrant and refugee community as New Zealand’s own while rejecting those perpetrating violence. […] Some Indians may be wistful that their prime minister who they see abroad is not the same PM they see at home, where too hate and divisiveness run amok but condemnations are few and far between […]. Preventing lone wolf attacks isn’t always possible but leaders like Ardern show capacity for the healing touch – which deserves emulation in India too.”
• Nintin Pai, director of the independent Takshashila Institution, argued that combatting acts of terror requires undermining the theatricality of the attacks: “What can we do about it? One option is to ban social media, censor information and become a China-like authoritarian state. Terrorism will not be effective if information is restricted, surveillance is pervasive and people are politically powerless. Another option is to ensure that our society continues to identify with the victims, and abhors political violence of any kind. The former is undesirable and the latter is perhaps unattainable in practice. We need to look for better options.”

 

JAPAN

Following the attack, both Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Taro Kono offered their condolences to New Zealand. Prime Minister Abe, writing to his counterpart Prime Minister Ardern, noted that “Japan firmly condemns the atrocious shooting carried out in Christchurch on 15th March. On behalf of the Government and people of Japan, I extend my sincere condolences to those who lost their lives and express heartfelt sympathy for their bereaved families and those injured. Japan expresses its sincere solidarity with the people of New Zealand in overcoming this difficult time. Terrorism cannot be justified for any reason. In close cooperation with New Zealand and the international community, Japan is determined to resolutely stand up against terrorism.” Foreign Minister Kono’s correspondence to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters read: Japan firmly condemns the atrocious terrorist attack carried out in Christchurch, New Zealand on 15th March. I extend my sincere condolences to those who lost their lives and their bereaved families and express sympathy for those injured. The people of Japan share the same pain that the people of New Zealand are feeling. Such brutal act of terrorism cannot be justified for any reason.

In response to the shooting, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison published an open letter to Prime Minister Abe requesting talks on strengthening regulation of social media platforms to be scheduled for the upcoming G20 Summit which will be held in Osaka in June 2019. When questioned about the request, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and Foreign Minister Kono declined to respond directly.  

• The Vox Populi column of the progressive Asahi Shimbun called for cooler heads to prevail following the attack: “When terrorism makes inroads into a region that was considered safe, it arouses the very terror on which terrorism feeds and grows in strength. And this can be averted only with stern action and cool objectivity.”
• The centrist Japan Times similarly critiqued lax gun laws, social media platforms’ inaction in handling content, and media coverage of attacks, but it also called for more action by ordinary citizens: “Ordinary citizens have a role to play as well. They too must denounce hate speech, rather than turning away or suffering in silence. They must take the offensive when needed, reporting suspect individuals or comments.”

 

RUSSIA

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly sent a message of condolence to Prime Minister Ardern that called for swift justice: “It was brutal and cynical attack on civilians who had gathered for prayers. I expect that all those involved in this crime will receive the punishment they deserve.” In a statement to the press, President Putin assured his countrymen that the government would act to prevent such an attack in Russia: “We certainly condole over victims in New Zealand following this terrible terrorist act, which was definitely aimed to undermine the situation in the country. We will do everything possible to prevent such situations in our country.” The Ostankino Tower in Moscow went dark for an hour on March 16 to honor the victims of the attack.

• Lyuba Lulko, a contributor at the nationalist Pravda Report, pointed to the bitter irony of the attacker’s logic: “New Zealand, just like Australia and many other countries of the world, used to be a British colony. Anglo-Saxons had colonised those countries and did their best to exterminate indigenous populations. They colonise half of the world, use humans as slaves and then complain of immigrants and call them invaders.”
• In its coverage of the attack, state-owned Sputnik News featured interviews with Honorary Professor at the University of Auckland and Honorary Officer of the Religious Diversity Centre of Aotearoa New Zealand Douglas Pratt, New Zealand labor union leaders Dennis Maga and Mike Treen, social media law expert Laura Bliss, Massey University Professor of Politics Richard Shaw, former chair of the Australian National Coalition for Gun Control Rebecca Peters, and founding director of the Sydney School of Public Health’s GunPolicy.org Philip Alpers. Sputnik also took aim at the rise of US right-wing groups and white supremacists in interviews with executive director of the One People’s Project Daryle Lamont Jenkins.

RPI acknowledges support from the MacArthur Foundation and Carnegie Corporation of New York for its activities.