China to reward those who report online terrorists

Shanghai: China has pledged to reward people who report online “terrorist” content up to 100,000 yuan ($ 15,200) for each tip off,

after giving out 2 million yuan worth of rewards last

year, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Monday. “The Internet has become a channel for terrorists to spread extremist religious ideas, provoke ethnic conflicts and advocate separatism,” Xinhua quoted an unnamed source from the Cyberspace Administration of China's ( CAC) reporting centre as saying. The person said Twitter- like microblogs and popular instant messaging services such as WeChat were among tools used by

terrorists to “brainwash” young women and children, and encouraged the public

to provide tip- offs via a telephone hotline. The centre's source said the most valuable tip off could receive 100,000 yuan, Xinhua reported. Giving unusual details of their efforts last year, the centre in 2015 received reports of more than 20,000 cases, and handed out 2 million yuan worth of rewards, it said. The CAC could not immediately be reached for comment during a public

holiday in China. In December, China called for a crackdown on online audio and video recordings used

by “terrorists”, after the Islamic State purportedly released a Chinese- language song to recruit militants.

The government says it faces a serious threat from Islamist militants and separatists in energy- rich

Xinjiang. — Reuters