Thoughts on the Recent Violence in Xinjiang

Although I don't intend to deal directly with political issues in this blog, one goal I have is to foster a better understanding of China among the non-Chinese who may read this blog, in whatever small way I can. In addition, I'm sure there are many non-Chinese who are wondering whether it's safe to travel in China right now, and in Xinjiang in particular. As a result, I feel I should say something about the recent violence and ongoing tension in Ürümchi and Xinjiang Province.

First of all, we at CIT would like to express our sorrow and sympathy for the victims and their families. Whatever the truth is about the violence that occurred on July 5, it is certain that many innocent people were killed. And whatever its political significance, this event was, above all, a personal tragedy for everyone touched by it.

From a traveler's perspective, the first thing to know is that the government of China and, for that matter, most of the Chinese people place the highest priority on stability and "keeping the peace." In the wake of the violence that occurred on July 5, the reports I've read that seem to be the most objective say that riot police were effective in preventing further violence and deterioration of the situation. (If they had not, it is quite possible that many more Uighurs and Han Chinese, both, would have died.) Whatever ongoing problems and tensions exist in Xinjiang, I fully expect the Chinese government to continue to be effective in maintaining stability. For the time being, I don't believe that travelers in Xinjiang will be at risk. That said, of course travelers should be aware of the situation, make prudent decisions, and avoid putting themselves in potentially dangerous situations. Our experienced and concerned tour guides will help ensure that this does not happen, and our tours will avoid any potentially dangerous areas.

A related concern is the increase in anti-American and anti-Western sentiment in China. My experiences in China suggest that whatever political issues the Chinese people may be upset about (often with good reason), many of them continue to be interested in the West and in Western culture, and as a general rule are friendly and welcoming. They don't take whatever anger or frustration they may feel out on individual Westerners, and I've never personally known any Westerners traveling in China who were the victims of violence. (In fact, I don't even recall ever hearing of any such incidents.)

I happened to be in China during the immediate aftermath of the 2001 "Hainan Island incident," in which an American spy plane collided with a Chinese military jet, killing the Chinese pilot. Though there was much discussion of the incident and some (understandable) anger among the Chinese, I did not sense any anti-American sentiment directed toward me. In the years since, the image of the United States and the West in general has deteriorated in China, but the fundamental safety of Western travelers in China remains assured. I would guess that in some situations and places, anti-Western sentiment might be more obvious (take, for example, this American reporter's experiences in trying to interview Uighurs about the recent violence), but these tend to be extreme and isolated situations that don't reflect the typical traveler's experience. (In this reporter's case, is it surprising that he would have such an experience on the streets of Ürümchi in the aftermath of the killings of so many Han Chinese and in the context of so much Western media bias? The threat of violence was not justified, of course, but surely it can't be a surprise that such an incident would occur.)

Whatever criticisms can be made about issues like the Chinese government's policies toward Xinjiang and Tibet, I am confident that the risk to travelers in China, even in those particular places, is minimal. In fact, the risk is probably lower than in most places in the world you might choose to travel to.

From a broader perspective, it is deeply saddening to see the continued lack of understanding between China and the Western world that has been highlighted by the violence in Ürümchi. I've been reading the comments left by both Chinese and non-Chinese readers in response to some articles and blog posts about the situation (see the links below), and they reveal a great deal of suspicion, ignorance, and anger on the part of people on both sides who are clearly intelligent and well-educated. Obviously, anonymous comments made on the Internet are not the best source of sober and even-handed reflection, but the interaction among these people is both revealing and disturbing. As is generally the case regarding issues like the ethnic and economic tensions in Xinjiang, the truth is complex. Unfortunately, what we in the West (especially the U.S.) are usually exposed to is a fairly simplistic and one-sided account that tends to reinforce our prejudices about the Chinese government. While I would never suggest that the Chinese government be exempt from criticism, we Westerners really need to be sure that we look at the situation objectively and become better informed before we make strong judgments. I would not presume to say what "the truth" about China's policies toward Uighurs and Xinjiang is, but I think reading these articles and the responses to them is a good beginning in determining for yourself where the truth lies.

Accounts of violence in Xinjiang (BBC News)
Ürümchi riots signal dark days ahead (The Telegraph)

As an American who is keenly aware of the history of racism in my own country, I hope that the Chinese people will be quicker to engage in constructive self-criticism than my country was. (I believe that there is already plenty of evidence to suggest they have done so and will continue to do so, but it's easy for people to find excuses to avoid that difficult process.) I also hope that we in the West will be more objective and better-informed in our attitudes toward China. With this blog, I will try to make a small contribution to that hope.