The international community should be wary of the motives of terrorists who recently staged a ruthless attack in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

A police investigation showed that the attack staged by a gang of 17 people on June 26 in Lukqun Township in Shanshan County in the region's Turpan Prefecture was carefully masterminded.

Formed by religious extremists, including leader Ahmatniyaz Sidiq, the gang raised funds, listened to recordings that incited violence, purchased knives and gasoline and conducted research to prepare for the attack.

In the early morning, the gang ruthlessly attacked the township's police stations, a local government building, a construction site, a private store and a hair salon, as well as set fire to police cars.

Twenty-four people, including two police officers, were killed by the knife-wielding rioters. Twenty-one police officers and civilians were injured.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a Monday press conference that groups representing the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism have committed multiple violent attacks in Xinjiang in recent years, incurring large civilian casualties and threatening national security.

They have also colluded with international terrorist forces in an attempt to undermine the development and stability of Xinjiang, Hua said.

Li Wei, director of the Anti-terrorism Research Center at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said the violence is the result of intensified penetration by terrorist forces in the periphery of China.

"Some foreign media and politicians have irresponsibly linked the violence to China's ethnic minority policies, which is not only groundless but completely ignores the rights of local people, " he said.

"As the residents of Xinjiang pull together to pursue greater social and economic development, violent terrorist organizations have found no place to survive there. To take the revenge against society, they have staged a series of attacks to undermine local development, " said Li.

"The attack also shows the terrorists' desperateness to declare their presence so as to enlist the support of overseas anti-China forces and expand their activity abroad," the researcher said.

The group attempted to boost its influence by attacking just ahead of the fourth anniversary of the July 5, 2009 riots that resulted in 197 deaths in Xinjiang's capital of Urumqi, Li said.

"Their intention is clear: to garner support from abroad," Li added.

Li said the international community should be wary of anti-China forces that use double standards to put pressure on the country.

To maintain global peace and stability, the international community needs to recognize the terrorist nature of these forces and condemn terrorism in all its forms, he said.

No government in the world should tolerate terrorist acts that jeopardize public life and property. China is not an exception and will punish terrorists according to law and take necessary measures to keep Xinjiang stable.

While the region's residents hope to live safely and prosperously, attempts by a small group of people to subvert solidarity and security in Xinjiang will never prevail and are doomed to fail.

As a bridgehead for China to open itself westward and explore the Asian and European markets, Xinjiang is playing a significant role in the country's drive toward national rejuvenation.

Those who are truly willing to embrace a more prosperous China must not turn a blind eye to terrorism. Government efforts to preserve Xinjiang's stability and protect its development must be supported.