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China has already taken a series of measures to
prevent attacks by extremists, including plans for an
anti-terrorism law that would give the government broader
surveillance powers and offering to pay for tips about violent
plots.
The latest steps also include assigning more security forces to
public transport, including buses, trains and subways, as well
as to schools, financial institutions and hospitals, the
official Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement issued
by the ruling Communist Party's Central Committee and the State
Council, China's cabinet.
In addition, China will require identification when registering
at hotels, for trade of second-hand goods, for motor refitting
and for "recreation services", Xinhua said, without specifying
the type of recreation.
The measures will help "prevent violence, terrorist attacks or
extreme events", the report said.
The statement calls for a "security network that covers all
grassroots communities", using more surveillance cameras.
China was rocked last year by a string of knife and bomb attacks
that it has blamed on separatists from the western region of
Xinjiang, which has been plagued by unrest.
Xinjiang is home to the Muslim Uighur people, who have chafed
under growing restrictions from China, including on their
religion, language and culture. Rights activists have criticized
the government, saying the crackdown only serves to exacerbate
tensions and breed extremism.
Hundreds of people have been killed in resource-rich Xinjiang,
strategically located on the borders of central Asia, in
violence in the past two years between Uighurs and ethnic
majority Han Chinese.
China has also tightened security at hospitals and other health
facilities after a spate of violence against doctors and nurses.
(Reporting By Megha Rajagopalan; Editing by Edmund Klamann)
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