China’s Firm Hand and the Head Buried in Sand
Ethnic tensions will not die until inequalities are obliterated. By Javad Mahzadeh.
Has the countdown to fall of the empire of China started? Will the Chinese communist regime succeed in preserving the status quo and closing the gates of its populated territory to the world?
Religious, racial and language minorities in China have such a variety that every part of this 9.5 million km2 seems like a separate country for itself. News reported from the restive Xinjiang region pass through government’s security filters, hence limiting the evidences of analyses on recent developments to the historical background of the region and previous ethnic tensions.
Chinese officials appear to have no sense of accountability against their nation. That is why the world’s expectation for valid reports sounds preposterous to them. China, having gained fame for tight intellectual and cultural control and non-commitment to human rights, has blocked internet access in Xinjiang these days to keep the world unaware of the roots of the Uyghurs’ uprising and the consequences. Repressive authoritarian regimes all follow the same pattern of burying their head in the sand at the time of crisis.
It is not important anymore if 170 or 180 –or as exiled Uyghurs say more than a thousand- have been killed. What counts is that any number coming out of China will be multiplied by ten. Of course the Chinese formula has some doubles in Russia, Middle East countries and a number of other countries which carry the legacy of communism.
What can be understood from the recent developments in Xinjiang –with regard to its background- is an effort to gain independence, a natural struggle to live as one likes. Uyghurs’ quest for independence is deemed as an uprising against the central government, which gives the communist regime the justification to suppress Muslim inhabitants of this region. But closer to reality in Uyghurs’ movement is their collective demand for equality and respect to their ethnic identity.
The long ago annexation of East Turkestan to China was at first welcomed by Turkic Muslims of this region, who thought that annexation is the outset of achieving equality, welfare and basic human rights. However, they always remained as an underprivileged minority and resorted to protests which called for nothing but enjoying basic rights and coming out of the minority shell. More than 10 million Uyghurs live in the Xinjiang area and live a non-pleasing life with the deprivations imposed on them by the central government.
The culture of western and northwestern regions of China is so disparate from other parts of this vast country that even the government doubts in calling them Chinese. The central government has no valid strategy for these regions however and disregards their Central Asian and religious roots.
Xinjiang inhabitants are influenced by the mainstream culture of Central Asia –a region whose people have gained fame for their independence. Quest of autonomy and independence has egalitarian roots in addition to identity-related roots. In other words, Uyghurs’ reaction to the central government is caused both by identity-related, racial differences and injustice and inefficiency.
This minority has risen up to achieve independence, but its efforts have always been to no avail. The Chinese regime has also always labeled Uyghurs as terrorists, and repressed their uprising under this pretext. But an undeniable reality which legitimizes Uyghurs’ movement is that in the past decades, communist China has always pressurized minorities in this area and has provided them with the minimum facilities.
To dilute the Uyghur majority, during the past years the central government has encouraged immigration of Hans to Xinjiang. They were dispatched to this area to give the government a chance to marginalize Muslims and label their protests as riots and sabotages.
The latest reports show that Urumqi security officials have banned gatherings and demonstrations under the pretext of establishing security in the city and protecting citizens’ properties. The same excuse has been definitely used to cut internet access and restrict media. The measures show that China feels no need to change its approach towards minorities and what is the most important for them is enforcement of laws and regulations which leave no space for protest, criticism or flexibility.
The Chinese government has of course has tried to show a gentle face and observe rights of the dead. Families of the victims of recent clashes –either Han or Uyghur- will receive repayments and their funeral ceremonies will be funded by the government. But this is not the minorities of China have stood up to achieve. Crises rooted in economic inequality, ethnic discrimination, political monopoly and uneven distribution of resources is a fire that is hard to kill. China just has to wait for more.
Religious, racial and language minorities in China have such a variety that every part of this 9.5 million km2 seems like a separate country for itself. News reported from the restive Xinjiang region pass through government’s security filters, hence limiting the evidences of analyses on recent developments to the historical background of the region and previous ethnic tensions.
Chinese officials appear to have no sense of accountability against their nation. That is why the world’s expectation for valid reports sounds preposterous to them. China, having gained fame for tight intellectual and cultural control and non-commitment to human rights, has blocked internet access in Xinjiang these days to keep the world unaware of the roots of the Uyghurs’ uprising and the consequences. Repressive authoritarian regimes all follow the same pattern of burying their head in the sand at the time of crisis.
It is not important anymore if 170 or 180 –or as exiled Uyghurs say more than a thousand- have been killed. What counts is that any number coming out of China will be multiplied by ten. Of course the Chinese formula has some doubles in Russia, Middle East countries and a number of other countries which carry the legacy of communism.
What can be understood from the recent developments in Xinjiang –with regard to its background- is an effort to gain independence, a natural struggle to live as one likes. Uyghurs’ quest for independence is deemed as an uprising against the central government, which gives the communist regime the justification to suppress Muslim inhabitants of this region. But closer to reality in Uyghurs’ movement is their collective demand for equality and respect to their ethnic identity.
The long ago annexation of East Turkestan to China was at first welcomed by Turkic Muslims of this region, who thought that annexation is the outset of achieving equality, welfare and basic human rights. However, they always remained as an underprivileged minority and resorted to protests which called for nothing but enjoying basic rights and coming out of the minority shell. More than 10 million Uyghurs live in the Xinjiang area and live a non-pleasing life with the deprivations imposed on them by the central government.
The culture of western and northwestern regions of China is so disparate from other parts of this vast country that even the government doubts in calling them Chinese. The central government has no valid strategy for these regions however and disregards their Central Asian and religious roots.
Xinjiang inhabitants are influenced by the mainstream culture of Central Asia –a region whose people have gained fame for their independence. Quest of autonomy and independence has egalitarian roots in addition to identity-related roots. In other words, Uyghurs’ reaction to the central government is caused both by identity-related, racial differences and injustice and inefficiency.
This minority has risen up to achieve independence, but its efforts have always been to no avail. The Chinese regime has also always labeled Uyghurs as terrorists, and repressed their uprising under this pretext. But an undeniable reality which legitimizes Uyghurs’ movement is that in the past decades, communist China has always pressurized minorities in this area and has provided them with the minimum facilities.
To dilute the Uyghur majority, during the past years the central government has encouraged immigration of Hans to Xinjiang. They were dispatched to this area to give the government a chance to marginalize Muslims and label their protests as riots and sabotages.
The latest reports show that Urumqi security officials have banned gatherings and demonstrations under the pretext of establishing security in the city and protecting citizens’ properties. The same excuse has been definitely used to cut internet access and restrict media. The measures show that China feels no need to change its approach towards minorities and what is the most important for them is enforcement of laws and regulations which leave no space for protest, criticism or flexibility.
The Chinese government has of course has tried to show a gentle face and observe rights of the dead. Families of the victims of recent clashes –either Han or Uyghur- will receive repayments and their funeral ceremonies will be funded by the government. But this is not the minorities of China have stood up to achieve. Crises rooted in economic inequality, ethnic discrimination, political monopoly and uneven distribution of resources is a fire that is hard to kill. China just has to wait for more.