C3S Occasional paper 5
Read the PDF of the Occasional Paper at this link: Tremors in Xinjiang
Preface
The People’s Republic of China is known for their firm hand upon dissidence. Communist rule, especially in the middle kingdom, does not appreciate deviation from a message of unity and stability. Outskirts of the nation-state, including Hong Kong, the Tibetan Autonomous Region, and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), feel the backlash of finding their own voice apart from the Beijing mindset. Each affected area has their own unique qualities that catalyze Central involvement and restriction. The XUAR holds the namesake Uyghurs, a Turkic Muslim population, and other ethnic minorities from surrounding neighbors. A sense of separatism in the Uyghur population has been present for decades, as well as Strike Hard campaigns that attempt to quell such sentiments. While this occurs the other aspect of the XUAR is the Silk Road Economic Belt and heavy Central investment on projects in relation. After General Secretary Xi Jinping’s acknowledgement of Uyghur terror outfits in Pakistan a few months prior, it is clear that Beijing has its sights on the Ethnic minority and their region.
About the Author
Marc Unger was an Intern with C3S. He has carried out research on identified issues on China under the guidance of the members of C3S. The views expressed in this article however are of the author.
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