How it all began: Ethnic Tensions and Political Friction with the Chinese Government

While China promotes its foundational principles of unity and modernization—with the goal of
achieving common prosperity—millions of people describe a more bitter reality characterised by
brutal mistreatment and cultural erasure. This raises an important question: How did it all begin?
Among the most affected are the Uyghur people, also known as the Uighur or Weiwu’er, a
Turkic-speaking minority who primarily live in northwestern China, specifically in the Xinjiang
Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR). Concentrated in Xinjiang, the Uyghurs play a key role in
China’s multicultural identity, while also revealing the complexities of governing an influential
ethnic minority.

Uyghurs are ethnically Turkic and possess their own language and cultural traditions. Unlike the
Han Chinese majority, they are predominantly Sunni Muslim—an aspect that plays a strong role
in their cultural identity.

Tensions between the Chinese government and the Uyghur population have long stemmed from
disputes over religious freedom, cultural expression, and political autonomy within Xinjiang.
These tensions have escalated to conflict amongst continuing international concern over China’s
policies and human rights violations against the Uyghur people.

Following the establishment of the autonomous region, many ethnic Han Chinese began to
migrate to Xinjiang, with the population of Han becoming two-fifths of Xinjiang’s total
population by the late 20th century. As ethnic tensions began to grow more intense between the
Han and Uyghur people, protests were frequent, soon even turning violent as in July 2009, “..it
was reported that nearly 200 people (mostly Han) were killed and some 1,700 were injured” as
stated by Britannica. Violent attacks would only increase after this event, with the Chinese
authorities responding by tightening their control and arresting Uyghurs suspected of dissent.

Much of the early clash between Uyghurs and the Han-majority state stems from their
contrasting cultural identities. The Uyghurs’ Turkic language, Islamic faith, and distinct
traditions differ sharply from the norms promoted by the Chinese government. While China
emphasizes unity, it often does so through political loyalty and cultural assimilation—approaches
many Uyghurs perceive as direct threats to their heritage. This friction has created an ongoing
‘tug-of-war’ struggle over identity, autonomy, and the right to cultural preservation between
sides.

In 2017, a crackdown on a much bigger scale was made. During the month of Ramadan that
year, former Xinjiang Party Secretary Chen Quanguo gave a speech concerning state
involvement during such an important religious time for the muslims. Quanguo stated,

“…we must exercise firm control over mosques and other venues of religious activity. On the one
hand, we ensure their freedom of religious belief, but on the other hand, our Party cadres, our
force must have physical presence in all mosques, both to enforce regulations and strengthen
monitoring activities, as well as to assess the situation.”

Spoken during a video management meeting of the Autonomous Region Stability Maintenance
Headquarters, the speech highlights the stated intention of balancing religious freedom with strict
control. The speech also outlines the stringent control and intensified surveillance and regulation
of religious life under the broader “Sinicization Campaign”—a policy under Xi Jinping aimed at
bringing all religious doctrine and practice in line with CCP ideology.

Since then, even the most basic forms of Islamic expression in Xinjiang have been increasingly
framed by Chinese authorities as signs of extremism. By linking Uyghur religious practice to
global terrorism—especially in the years following the 9/11 attacks—the government has sought
to justify sweeping measures in the name of national security.

The situation in Xinjiang ultimately reflects the on-going challenges that arise when a state seeks
to integrate minority populations under a unified national vision. China maintains that its policies
are necessary to preserve stability and combat extremism, while others argue that these measures
restrict fundamental freedoms and undermine the cultural identity of the Uyghur people. As
competing narratives continue to shape global understanding of the region, the future of Xinjiang
and the Uyghur people remain uncertain. The Uyghur question now sits at the intersection of
human rights, international law, and global politics. The struggle continues to occur even
today,with new information concerning the region becoming an intricate topic, oftentimes with
deep dispute. The Uyghur situation holds great influence over how global politics will be done
many years into the future, making the need to understand and know its origins all the more
crucial. How these tensions are navigated in the years ahead will play a significant role in
determining not only the fate of the Uyghur population, but also the broader aspect in future
governance.