Reports of ethnic separatist violence in China are focusing renewed
attention on Xinjiang province, an area famous as the site of the ancient “Silk
Route.” The recent clashes result in part from efforts by China and the five fledgling
republics of Central Asia to promote economic and political ties. Central Asia
seeks a counterweight to continuing Russian influence. China, whose northwestern
Xinjiang province borders Central Asia and contains large numbers of
Muslims, wants the assurance of Central Asian leaders that they will not support
separatist movements. Both want markets for their exports, including vast, largely
undeveloped oil, gas, and coal reserves. China also seeks new sources of energy.
But increased investment and cross-border trade are producing more than just
economic development: links between Muslims in Xinjiang and those in Central
Asia are being reestablished and, within Xinjiang, the uneven benefits of development
are aggravating rivalries between local Muslims and the large Han population
(China’s official majority nationality). The increasing political unrest is threatening
the region’s promising energy and economic development.