China’s Crackdown in Restive Xinjiang Results in 400 Suspects Arrested, According to Reuters

BEIJING – China has dismantled over 40 groups labeled as "violent terror gangs" and arrested more than 400 individuals in the western region of Xinjiang since the initiation of a crackdown in May, according to state media reports on Monday.

These numbers reflect China’s ongoing efforts to address what it describes as violent activities linked to Islamist and separatist factions in Xinjiang, which is home to a significant Muslim Uighur population.

The Legal Daily, a publication affiliated with the ruling Communist Party, reported that in 10 of these cases, public security offices received information leading to the arrests of over 100 people, along with the seizure of various explosive devices, raw materials, and tools.

The publication also mentioned the confiscation of numerous pieces of religious extremist multimedia propaganda.

On May 23, government authorities launched a year-long initiative aimed at countering "violent terrorist activities," prompted by a suicide bombing earlier that month that resulted in 39 fatalities at a market in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang. Additionally, a stabbing incident in March claimed the lives of 29 people at a train station in the southwestern city of Kunming. The government claims that approximately 200 individuals have died amid unrest in Xinjiang over the past year, including 13 victims of a police shooting during an attack on a police station in June.

Exiled Uighur organizations and human rights advocates argue that the government’s oppressive measures in Xinjiang, particularly restrictions on Islamic practices, have incited unrest, a claim that Beijing denies.

Xinjiang, known for its abundant resources and strategic location along the borders of Central Asia, plays a crucial role in fulfilling China’s expanding energy requirements. Analysts suggest that the benefits from these resources have predominantly accrued to the Han Chinese population, intensifying feelings of resentment among Uighurs.

Dilxat Raxit, spokesperson for the exiled World Uyghur Congress, expressed concerns in an email, stating, "China’s political policies will lead to even more people facing unjust charges."