Citation

Steele L, Kuo R. Ethnopolitics 2007; 6(1): 1-19.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/17449050600917072

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

China rarely evokes images of radical Islam, bus bombings and mosque razings. Yet all of these elements have had a distinct impact on life in China's north-western province, Xinjiang. While the Chinese government has emphasized Islamic extremism and acts of terror to convince international actors that it is confronted with an international terrorist movement, human rights organizations have pointed out the high level of dissatisfaction pervasive among Xinjiang's Uighur population. The desperation among Uighurs in Xinjiang has spawned a significant terrorist movement. Were the numerous grievances of the Uighurs addressed by Beijing, the movement would lose its limited popular support, which is currently on the rise.