Xinjiang: New Tibet

Tensions flare in the oil-rich border region of Xinjiang. Although around 90% of Chinese are ethnic Han, Xinjiang is home to 8 million Uighurs, a Muslim Turkic-speaking people. Uighurs experience restrictions on their language and religion, leading to regular yet small protests in rural towns (namley Khotan). The PRC limits the number of pilgrims to Mecca each year and sometimes censors the sermons of religious figures. Xinjiang is home of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, classified as a terrorist group by the U.S. in 2002. Last week China arrested 45 members on grounds of planned Olympic suicide bombings and athlete kidnappings.