The Associated Press
June 16, 2008

BEIJING (AP) - State media says China's government has appointed a
one of its top terrorism experts as a vice public security minister
in anticipation of Olympic-related threats.

Yang Xuanning has extensive experience in central government bodies
dedicated to neutralizing government critics and perceived opponents
in the restive western regions and managing China's often cloudy
international image, the official Communist Party newspaper People's
Daily reported Monday.

Beijing has called terrorism the single biggest threat to the games
and claims to have foiled plots targeting the event, although it has
provided little evidence.

Yang's appointment also appears to reflect Beijing's desire to paint
critics of Tibet and Xinjiang policies as violent terrorists.