Editor's Note: At least 29 civilians died and more than 140 were injured in a terrorist attack at Kunming Rail-way Station, Yunnan province. The police found evidence linking the attack to Xinjiang extremists. Five Chinese scholars look at the attack from different angles and share their opinions. Excerpts below:

West should accept terrorism is a common enemy

Terrorism has always accompanied human civilization, but it has become especially rampant in the 21st century. After the terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept 11, 2001, and the US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it has spread to more countries and regions. While Afghanistan, Pakistan and some other countries in North Africa or the Middle East continue suffering from organized attacks, the US, Russia, the Britain, and even China have also fallen victim to them.