China’s Xinjiang officials want to build ‘strategic barrier for geopolitical security’

Annual meeting of party’s regional committee also pledges to make social stability the top priority and improve efforts to fight terrorism

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Armed police officers patrol at the Grand Bazaar in Urumqi, Xinjiang on July 5, the 15th anniversary of deadly riots in the city caused by ethnic unrest. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 11:00am, 27 Aug 2024Updated: 11:07am, 27 Aug 2024

Authorities in Xinjiang have vowed to make stability and security their top priority and to turn the far western region into a “strategic barrier” against geopolitical risks, according to official media.

The Xinjiang committee of China’s ruling Communist Party made the pledge in a statement at the end of its annual plenary session – attended by the top party and government officials from the region – on Saturday.

“[We should] make social stability the top priority and improve the system and mechanisms for maintaining national security,” according to the statement published in Xinjiang Daily, the mouthpiece of the regional party committee.

It said Xinjiang should also improve “the legal and work routines for counterterrorism and maintaining stability”, along with public security and stability on the border.

The Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region shares borders with countries including Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

China has been accused of human rights abuses in Xinjiang, including that at least 1 million Uygurs and other Muslim minorities were held in mass internment camps. Beijing has denied the claims, saying the centres were for “vocational training” and that its policies in the region are aimed at cracking down on terrorism and extremism.