Riots in early July in northwestern China pitted Muslim Uighurs (wee-guhrz) against Han Chinese. Shops were destroyed and vehicles were lit on fire. The ethnic unrest in Xinjiang Province, the worst in China in decades, left 197 dead and some 1,700 injured. Chinese security forces made mass arrests, and 200 people now face trial for their role in the violence. The defendants, who are mostly Uighurs, face charges from vandalism to arson and murder.
Chinese officials claim the riots’ victims were predominantly Han Chinese. They blame the violence on Uighur exile groups, which they accuse of working with al Qaeda, the Islamist extremist group. While Uighurs allege that hundreds of their people were killed in the Chinese crackdown, Chinese authorities have acknowledged only that 12 Uighur rioters were shot dead by security forces. Human rights groups say China is attempting to justify its crackdown to avoid international pressure. With the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China approaching in October, China’s leaders also want to prevent any disturbances that would distract from official celebrations.
A Turkic, largely Islamic people, Uighurs make up about 40 percent of the population in Xinjiang. The province, which borders eight other countries, is strategically important to China’s central government: it makes up one-sixth of the country’s land area and has abundant oil and natural gas reserves. Han Chinese dominate Xinjiang’s economy, and Uighurs there regularly face discrimination in education as well as restrictions on religious pilgrimages. Uighurs are fighting for more cultural autonomy.
Related Links
- Trials Due over Xinjiang Riots
This article by BBC News focuses on the trials of hundreds of Chinese citizens for the violent riots in July in Xinjiang. (Source: BBC News, August 24, 2009) - China Admits Uighur Riot Killings
This BBC News recap of the rioting recounts the role of Chinese security forces in quelling the riots. (Source: BBC News, July 18, 2009) - FACTBOX: China’s Restive Xinjiang Region
This Reuters article includes background on the region of Xinjiang and the Uighur people. (Source: Reuters, July 10, 2009) - Map of China
Map of China from the University of Texas. This map shows the autonomous region of Xinjiang in the northwest part of the country. China’s capital is Beijing. (Source: The University of Texas)
Other Issues in the Region
Trade and Prosperity
East Asian economies became global powerhouses in the 1970s and 1980s, but the decline of Asian economies in the 1990s created a crisis that led around the globe. The rapid changes in East Asian economies also raised concerns about the use of child-labor and sweatshops, where people work long hours for little pay.
- East Asian Economies May Have “V-Shaped” Recovery, ADB Says
Some East Asian economies that declined sharply when the global recession hit are now poised to resume growth, according to the Asian Development Bank. As China’s regionally dominant economy recovers, other countries too are seeing a rebound, with economic growth rates expected to climb above 5 percent in 2010.
(Source: Bloomberg.com, July 31, 2009)
Ring of Fire
The countries of East Asia are located within the “Ring of Fire,” a chain of volcanoes rimming the Pacific Ocean. Volcanoes formed the islands that form the nation of Japan. The islands remain vulnerable to volcanic eruptions and earthquake activity. People in Japan have adjusted to such threats. National and local governments inform citizens and visitors about what to do should an earthquake occur. Scientists regularly monitor seismic activity (earth tremors) and the islands’ volcanoes. Earthquake drills are held annually, and governments have sought to improve construction standards to minimize earthquake damage.
Quality of Life
The rapid industrialization of East Asia has made some countries among the most prosperous in the world. But the population growth in countries like China has also meant that poverty and poor health care still plague many East Asians.
In an effort to find better jobs to support their families, tens of millions of Chinese are leaving their homes in rural areas and moving to the booming cities. They are lured by new construction jobs and the opportunity to send money home to their families. But many have difficulty getting paid for their work. Often these workers are treated as second-class citizens in the cities, and many workers cannot prove their claims because they did not sign contracts when taking jobs.
- Hope for China’s Air Even After Polluters Reopen
Discusses China’s efforts to reduce pollution in the buildup to the Olympics, and what China can do to ensure that the improvements remain once the games are over.
(Source: Reuters, August 15, 2008)