Violence in Sinkiang

Sinkiang has been the source of much tension for Chinese authorities for the past century. The most recent outbreak of violence, while not directly related to the splittist activities of the past, highlights the continued misconception of Muslims versus Han. The continued mentality of us-versus-them illustrates the continued failure of the authorities in Peiping to promote the Chinese identity that should supersede these smaller sub-divisions.

There is much diversity within the Chinese nation and the continued authoritarian control that the Chinese Communist Party imposes upon the country stifles this diversity. At best, it provides an illusion of tolerance, but violent outbursts similar to the events in Sinkiang display the reality of the situation. The post-9/11 world has made the situation more volatile, because the CCP has used the War on Terror as further justification to take definitive action against Chinese Muslims, particularly those in Sinkiang. Furthermore, the major oil pipeline that supplies Mainland China coincidentally runs through the region, making regional stability that much more valuable. The misguided policy of the War on Terror coupled with the addiction to non-renewable energy sources has hurt the Chinese nation.

The solution is easier said than done in the case of Sinkiang. There has not been a solution that has appeased both the Chinese Muslims and the political decision-makers for at least the past century. Therefore, the first step should be to acknowledge the privilege that the Han Chinese living in Tihwa have received and begin reversing that process. Second, Chinese Muslims (and other religious groups such as Tibetan Buddhists and Catholics) need to be free to practice their faith. Lastly, we need to move beyond outdated assumptions about what it means to be "Chinese" to incorporate groups like Chinese Muslims. After all, Chinese Muslims are considered one of the five traditional Chinese nationalities. We are not defined by our individual Chinese ethnic groups. We are defined by the fact that we are Chinese. We are all Descendants of the Dragon.