China will be joining other countries in its war against ISIS after four of its citizens were killed by Islamist terror groups in two separate attacks.
Beijing man Fan Jinghui, 50, and Norwegian national Ole Johan Grimsgaard-Ofstad, 48, were reported to have been killed by the terrorists. They were said to have been taken hostage last September.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said: "The Chinese government strongly condemns this savage act devoid of humanity and will certainly bring the criminals to justice."
"The Chinese government will resolutely oppose all forms of terrorism and resolutely strike at any violent terrorist criminal activities that defy the bottom lines of human culture."
"China will continue to strengthen anti-terrorism cooperation with the international community to maintain peace and [tranquillity] in the world."
ISIS had published through their propaganda publication Dabiq photos of two men and labeled them as "for sale". Their latest issue showed the two men shot to death. It read that these two were "abandoned by kafir nations and organizations".
China has a strong military force composed of more than two million active personnel.
On the other hand, Norway's Prime Minsiter Erna Solberg has also condemned the act saying that such an inhumane act has no grounds. "There are no excuses for the treatment our countryman has been subjected to, it can't be found in religion, nor ideology."
The three other Chinese citizens were killed during the attack on Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, Mali. They were executives from the state-owned China Railway Construction Corp. They were Zhou Tianxiang and Wang Xuanshang, general manager and deputy general manager of the company's international division, and Chang Xuehui, general manager of its West Africa division.
"China Railway Construction Corp is deeply saddened by the deaths of the three employees, and we express our deep condolences to the victims' families and strongly condemn the atrocities committed by the terrorists," the company's official statement said.
Malian commandos stormed the building and freed 170 hostages, many of them foreigners, including Chinese.
