Accessibility links

Breaking News

New Violence Reported In China's Xinjiang Region


A Chinese paramilitary policeman mans a checkpoint on the road to the riot-affected Uyghur town of Lukqun in Xinjiang Province on June 28.
A Chinese paramilitary policeman mans a checkpoint on the road to the riot-affected Uyghur town of Lukqun in Xinjiang Province on June 28.
China's state media has reported fresh violence in China's restive far western region of Xinjiang.

The reports said a "violent attack" took place on June 28 in the city of Hotan but gave no details.

Earlier this week, at least 35 people were killed in clashes between residents and police and other violent incidents in the region.

Xinjiang, a sprawling region that borders Central Asia, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Pakistan, and Russia, is home to some 10 million mostly Uyghur Muslims.

Uyghurs complain of tight restrictions on religious and cultural life by Beijing and say the authorities are marginalizing them by policies favoring Han Chinese migrants.

The government says it faces an organized terrorist threat from Muslim groups in the region.

In July 2009, nearly 200 people were killed in riots in Xinjiang's regional capital of Urumqi.

Based on reporting by AFP and dpa

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG