The Xinjiang region is the largest autonomous region in China. Various Muslim minorities with Central Asian roots live there. Time and again, there has been unrest there.
-Xinjiang in northwest China is the largest autonomous region in the People's Republic.
-Many ethnic groups and religions live together here, which causes conflicts again and again.
-Especially the minority of the Uyghurs has to fight with many discriminations.
The Xinjiang Autonomous Region has been part of the People's Republic of China since 1950. For centuries, various mostly Muslim ethnic groups with Central Asian roots have lived there. Today, these are referred to as national minorities. The largest ethnic group in Xinjiang are the Uyghurs. In recent decades, there have been repeated religious conflicts between the minorities and the majority Han Chinese - more and more of whom have moved to Xinjiang over the years. Occasionally, riots have broken out - prompting Beijing's recent harsh response. As a result, Uyghurs in particular are currently subject to human rights abuses and discrimination. As of 2021, up to one million of them are reported to be interned in so called re-education camps. Beijing admits the existence of the camps, but describes them as training centers.
Xinjiang: Geographical Facts
Xinjiang is one of five officially autonomous regions of China that are self-governed by law by the national minorities living there.
As the largest of these autonomous regions, the Xinjiang Autonomous Region occupies one-sixth of China's land area. Due to this huge area of 1.66 million square kilometers, Xinjiang borders seven states. Its external border with these states and other provinces and regions of China is 5600 kilometers long.
Most of Xinjiang's area consists of barren desert land. The largest desert in the region is the Taklamakan Desert. High mountain ranges and the Tibetan plateau border the north and south of the region. The people of the region traditionally live in oases, where they still grow melons or grapes, among other things. In the mountains, sheep are raised, among other things. In the lowlands there is cotton cultivation. The region is also rich in mineral resources, including natural gas.
The seven states bordering Xinjiang are:
- Afghanistan
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Mongolia
- Pakistan
- Russian Federation
- Tajikistan read more