Xi Jinping's July 2022 Xinjiang Tour Promotes Zhonghua Identity Over Ethnic Diversity
In July 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a four-day visit to Xinjiang, marking his first trip to the region since 2014. He was joined by officials, including Ma Xingrui, the party secretary of Xinjiang. During his visit, Xi commended the area's development and its significance in the Silk Road Economic Belt, emphasizing that Xinjiang is an integral part of China. While Xinhua depicted a sense of normalcy, the backdrop involved extensive repression, with one to two million individuals detained since 2017 and international sanctions related to genocide claims. Xi frequently referenced the concept of Zhonghua, mentioning it 28 times, yet he refrained from discussing terrorism or internment camps and chose not to wear a traditional Uyghur doppa hat, possibly to avoid recognizing ethnic identity.
Key facts
- Xi Jinping visited Xinjiang in mid-July 2022 for the first time since 2014.
- The tour lasted four days and included stops in Urumchi, Shihezi, and a village.
- Xi was accompanied by Ma Xingrui, Erkin Tuniyaz, and other officials.
- Xi used the term 'Zhonghua' 28 times and did not mention 'Han' once.
- Xi avoided mentioning terrorism, extremism, or internment camps.
- He called for strengthening research into the 'Zhonghua minzu community.'
- Since 2017, one to two million people have been interned in Xinjiang camps.
- Xi did not wear a traditional Uyghur doppa hat in official photos.
Entities
Institutions
- Xinhua
- Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC)
- Bingtuan
- Xinjiang University
- State Nationalities Affairs Commission
- State Ethnic Affairs Commission
- People's Liberation Army
- Central Work Coordination Small Group on Xinjiang
- Second Central Work Forum on Xinjiang
Locations
- Xinjiang
- Urumchi
- Shihezi
- China
- United States
- Canada
- European Union
- United Kingdom
- Mongolia
- Gansu
- Russia