TOPIC

/ location

Xinjiang

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Xinjiang. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Ürümqi

Head of Government

Party Secretary of Xinjiang Ma Xingrui

last updated:

25 September, 2024

A Chinese envoy to the UN says China respects choices made by the Syrian people and does not seek to interfere in internal Syrian affairs. Photo: Reuters

China-Middle East relations

China warns leaders in Syria not to threaten security elsewhere

Chinese envoy addresses UN briefing days after Turkestan Islamic Party publishes video encouraging Xinjiang Muslims to wage jihad.

19 Dec 2024 - 1:05PMvideocam

Belt and Road Initiative

Opinion | Hong Kong and Xinjiang could be the core of Kazakhstan’s China strategy

16 Dec 2024 - 10:53AM

US-China tech war

Sanctioned camera maker Hikvision ends five government contracts in Xinjiang

14 Dec 2024 - 4:00PMvideocam

China-EU relations

EU-China agenda stalls under Trump’s long shadow

Holding pattern could break next week as EU decides if China crossed red line in arming Russia, a move that would force Beijing to respond.

13 Dec 2024 - 12:23PMvideocam

Relations between China and the EU are in a holding pattern, with no current talks nor any retaliatory actions. Photo: Shutterstock

E-commerce

Shein’s UK IPO slowed by challenge from Uygur NGO alleging Xinjiang cotton use

Britain’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner has also raised concerns over allegations about the fast-fashion firm’s labour practices.

13 Dec 2024 - 10:31AMvideocam

Canada

Canada sanctions 8 Chinese officials, citing human rights violations

China’s foreign ministry said it is opposed to and strongly condemns Canada’s sanctions.

11 Dec 2024 - 4:52PMvideocam

China’s Communist Party

Xi calls for wider use of Mandarin in China’s border areas amid security push

Leader tells Politburo study session that the unity of all ethnic groups ‘like pomegranate seeds tightly held together’ should be promoted.

10 Dec 2024 - 8:00PMvideocam

Xi Jinping told Politburo members that maintaining security and stability is the “baseline requirement” for border governance. Photo: EPA

Science

Xinjiang power swing threatened China’s nationwide electricity supply in August

‘Severe threat’ to grid’s stability this summer may be linked to the region’s large-scale renewable energy sources.

6 Dec 2024 - 4:16PMvideocam

US-China relations

3 Uygurs freed as part of US-China prisoner exchange: report

The Biden administration reportedly drove ‘a fairly tough bargain’ with Beijing in gaining the release of the Uygurs.

4 Dec 2024 - 5:07AMvideocam

Belt and Road Initiative

Xinjiang eyes closer ties with Pakistan and Central Asia to offset US sanctions

Far west region boosts role as belt and road gateway by opening Pakistan border for the winter and growing ties with Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu.

3 Dec 2024 - 10:05AMvideocam

Khunjerab port, the sole border crossing connecting China and Pakistan, will remain open through the winter starting this year. Photo: Weibo/光影小帧

Central Asia

China seeks to boost energy ties with Turkmenistan

Foreign Minister Wang Yi also said he would seek to boost investment in the country at a meeting with his Central Asian counterparts.

1 Dec 2024 - 7:58PM

Turkmenistan has significant gas reserves. Photo: AFP

China manufacturing

China wants to turn Xinjiang’s vast deserts into a string of pearls

Millions of pearls are already being harvested in the Taklimakan Desert, as China tries to turn the arid region into a hub for aquaculture.

29 Nov 2024 - 5:45PM

Electric & new energy vehicles

Volkswagen’s controversial Xinjiang plant sale signals strategic shift in China

VW sells assets to address political risks and cut excess capacity, while extending its partnership with SAIC to regain market share in China.

29 Nov 2024 - 8:00AM

Science

China surrounds ‘sea of death’ Taklamakan Desert with giant green belt

Just completed multi-decade project in Xinjiang region is intended to help prevent desertification and boost local economies.

29 Nov 2024 - 2:02PM

China has construction a vast green belt of salt-tolerant, drought-resistant plants to combat desertification in the Xinjiang region. Photo: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Blinken urges G7 countries to maintain unity in face of China risks

US secretary of state cites Beijing’s economic policies, human rights record and support for Russia in the war against Ukraine.

27 Nov 2024 - 6:47AMvideocam

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks on Tuesday at the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Fiuggi, Italy. Photo: Reuters

China's population

China’s border with Central Asia deemed concern amid demographic decline

China’s sparsely populated border with Central Asia, which is losing residents quickly, was named by a researcher as an area not to ignore.

24 Nov 2024 - 2:00PMvideocam

US-China relations

US blacklists 29 more Chinese companies over alleged forced labour in Xinjiang

Products of offending firms range from hi-tech inputs such as polysilicon to food products like tomato paste, according to Homeland Security.

23 Nov 2024 - 11:40PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Little room to mend EU-China ties amid differences over trade, Ukraine

Dialogue and action urged ahead of Donald Trump’s return and as mainland ship is detained by Danish coastguard over cut undersea cables.

23 Nov 2024 - 1:07AMvideocam

Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 anchored and under surveillance in the sea of Kattegat, near the town of Grenaa, Denmark, on November 20, 2024. Photo: EPA-EFE

SCMP Highlights

Recap | Western hypocrisy over Gaza, Comac’s C919 a disruptor and more by our columnists

Explore Western hypocrisy on Muslim rights, feng shui’s environmental impact, Comac’s aviation ambitions and more latest pieces by our opinion writers.

13 Nov 2024 - 5:23PM

China food security

A salty secret of Xinjiang grasslands is solved, and it’s time to graze the roof

Years of research have yielded productive plains that offer China more food security in the face of geopolitical upheaval and extreme weather.

28 Oct 2024 - 6:19PMvideocam

US-China relations

US adds 6 more Chinese companies to export blacklist for boosting Iran, PLA

Firms acting contrary to American national security in supporting Tehran’s ‘weapons of mass destruction programme’, says Commerce Department.

22 Oct 2024 - 6:00AM

Once placed on the list, companies cannot receive American goods and technology without a special licence, which is likely to be denied. Photo: AP

China-UK relations

Britain seeking new ‘starting point’ in China relationship after Lammy visit

The two countries have pledged to cooperate in a number of areas, but lingering tensions remain.

21 Oct 2024 - 11:41PMvideocam

Foreign Secretary David Lammy at Shanghai’s Museum of Art Pudong. Photo: FCDO UK

US-China relations

US bans Chinese steel, food-additives firms over Xinjiang human rights

Latest additions to Uygur Forced Labour Prevention Act’s entity list show American drive to rid its supply chain of forced labour presses on.

3 Oct 2024 - 5:40AM

US-China relations

Threat assessment: ranking risk among US companies dealing with China

Ford Motor, Carrier and Tesla are top three businesses most vulnerable in analysis by market research firm.

1 Oct 2024 - 3:27AM

China-EU relations

‘Nightmare’ ahead: EU companies warn of coming regulatory clash with China

Human rights and environmental audit requirements are expected to put European firms on a collision course with Chinese laws.

28 Sep 2024 - 3:17PMvideocam

European Union legislation banning products made with forced labour does not name Xinjiang but was written with the cotton producing region of western China in mind. Photo: Xinhua

Science

Chinese scientists find world’s oldest cheese buried with Xinjiang mummies

DNA tests suggest Bronze Age people who lived in far west China 3,500 years ago made kefir cheese, challenging beliefs about ancient diets.

26 Sep 2024 - 12:02AM

Chinese scientists say a mysterious substance found smeared on the heads and necks of Tarim Basin mummies is a type of soft cheese made from a fermented dairy drink. Photo: Handout / Li Wenying

China trade

China raises Xinjiang cotton with parent firm for Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger

Beijing ministry reveals it initiated investigation into PVH Group under Unreliable Entry List framework due to ‘discriminatory’ measures.

25 Sep 2024 - 2:10PMvideocam

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Human rights in China

Open Questions | Ethnic minorities expert on China’s treatment of Uygurs, and Han chauvinism

Ethnic minorities expert Barry Sautman gives his take on education, the next Dalai Lama, Han chauvinism and Beijing’s treatment of Uygurs.

23 Sep 2024 - 12:58PMvideocam

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