Peaceful Coexistence Not Likely

Doak Barnett’s 1993 article, Chinese Turkestan, showcases Xinjiang’s metamorphosis from 1950’s poor, primitive outpost to the current modernized city inhabited by Uighurs and an ever growing Han population. Barnett is awed by the changes he witnesses and reports that Han and Uighurs coexist rather peacefully. Fast forward a dozen years later and the Uighurs and Han Chinese aren’t so cozy anymore. This remote western region has always been at the crossroads between China and Central Asia, as traders traveled the Silk Road to enter China through the back door. The civil war of the 1940’s offered the Uighurs the opportunity to establish their own country, East Turkestan, but the effort was short lived when the CCP invaded and brought the Uighur back into the Chinese fold as the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. As economic reforms continue at full throttle, Beijing has pushed westward to develop its more remote regions and a flood of Han Chinese from the surrounding provinces have arrived in Xinjiang looking for opportunities. The increase in the Han population and the rise of terrorism has made the Uighur strangers in a strange land. While the Han live in apartment high rises and shop in local department stores, many Uighurs adhere to more ethnic traditions, visiting kebab stalls, shopping in the bazaars and attending mosques. Xinjiang's skyline mimics those of larger cities and billboards in Chinese hawk the latest commodities. Economic reforms have transformed the city, but generally, the two groups do not mix even though they often share the same workplace. Following the September 11th attacks though, life for the Uighur grew more difficult as a 2006 Time Asia article notes (http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/xinjiang/cover2.html). Beijing, ever vigilant in its monitoring of any “separatist” moves by the Uighur, grew fearful of alliances with Al-Queda that might stir up new attempts at civil unrest. Uprisings in the early 90’s and again in ’97 prompted the CCP to initiate the “Strike Hard Campaign” to ensure containment of any separatist sympathizers. Additionally, the government stepped up economic development in the region, and imported Han Chinese laborers to build roads, highways and rail lines; the ultimate intent was to dilute the Uighur population and build a greater Chinese identity. The campaign also brought greater surveillance by police and the PLA who detained suspects and infiltrated mosques. Islamic clerics were forced to attend “patriotic education” sessions, the Uighur language was banned and Mandarin required in the universities and schools. Local language texts were also scrutinized for any overtones of separatist rhetoric. After the 9/11 attacks, under pressure from the U.S., the Uighur were once again targeted by the CCP because of their Islamic beliefs. Although far removed from Beijing, the Uighur have not escaped repression of religion and cultural practices. Recent months have once again seen clashes between Uighur protestors and Chinese police. Xinjiang may well be on the margins both geographically and culturally, but they continue to struggle with maintaining their ethnic identity as the east encroaches and overtakes the region. The Han are not going away and the Uighur will grumble, but not openly. There is still a small segment that refuses to give up the fight, but for the remainder the challenge is to accommodate a changing landscape while retaining their identity. Although the government may consider the Uighur Chinese, the Uighur know otherwise.