Violence Escalates in China
The Chinese military has sent thousands of troops to the country's west to try to slow down the rising ethnic violence that has engulfed the region.
The ethnic violence that has gripped the city of Urumqi in the Xinjiang region of China has continued to escalate and at least 150 people have been reported killed thus far, with several hundred injured or missing. The two groups at the heart of the violence are the ethnic minority Uighurs and the ethnic majority Han Chinese. Apparently, the first round of violence was started by the Uighurs as they attacked Han Chinese for what they believe to be discriminatory policies and practices.
Chinese officials have publicly addressed the violence, stating that anyone that is found to be committing serious crimes will be executed. Some in the Chinese government have pointed to exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer as stirring up the violence from abroad in the United States. Uighurs on the ground in China have dismissed that claim as laughable.
The Uighurs have a long history of wishing for a separate statehood, outside of Chinese control and administration. Violence has erupted at several points over the years and Chinese officials often refer to Uighurs generally as terrorists. The most recent notable Uighur uprising was in 1997, when 9 people were killed.
The growing violence in the region is likely to be violently put down by the Chinese military as it gets involved to restore order.
Chinese officials have publicly addressed the violence, stating that anyone that is found to be committing serious crimes will be executed. Some in the Chinese government have pointed to exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer as stirring up the violence from abroad in the United States. Uighurs on the ground in China have dismissed that claim as laughable.
The Uighurs have a long history of wishing for a separate statehood, outside of Chinese control and administration. Violence has erupted at several points over the years and Chinese officials often refer to Uighurs generally as terrorists. The most recent notable Uighur uprising was in 1997, when 9 people were killed.
The growing violence in the region is likely to be violently put down by the Chinese military as it gets involved to restore order.
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