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April 11, 2006
China's Middle East: Xinjiang
Xinjiang.
Don't talk to the Chinese about Xinjiang. They hate it. They hate the area and its people, the Uighurs.
Xinjiang, like Taiwan and neighboring Tibet, is a neuralgic issue for China, which desperately needs internal stability in that predominantly Muslim, resource-rich and strategically important region. Beijing's strategic and energy objectives are based on stability in Xinjiang and its Central Asian policies grow out of its preoccupation with stability there.
The United States has accused China of using the war on terrorism as an excuse to suppress political dissent in Xinjiang. In the region, since September 11, China has beefed up military and police units; detained thousands of suspected militants and restricted religious rights, which are protected under China's constitution.
continues here
Posted by Doc at April 11, 2006 9:20 AM
