The Urumqi Riots, the Issues, and the Ugly Beast of Ethnocentrism

De Maitre has put up many interesting posts these few days. Having to fight a fierce battle against the monotony of life and lost, I decided to discuss something more depressing.

The recent riots in Urumqi, the provincial capital of Xinjiang, China, has resulted in hundreds dead and thousands wounded. It has also deeply divided and antagonised two fractions of a society. Both Han and Uighur Chinese walk the streets brandishing weapons, attacking each other when the riots were at their height two days ago. The situation is much calmer now, given the massive flood of paramilitary forces and troops into Urumqi, but we now have to examine why the riots got so bad, and what it means for China.

Actually, the understanding of the issue is different between East and West. The West, given their long-standing support for human rights and self-determination, interpreted the issue as the outburst of long suppressed feelings of oppression by the Uighurs under Han rule. It sees the issue in very much the same way as it interprets the problem of Tibet.

By contrast, the East sees the problem from a socio-economic perspective, instead of a political one. Actually, Uighurs (and minorities in general) are treated better than the Han in China. Yes, it’s positive discrimination. Uighurs for example, need less points to enrol in local universities, much like how Tamils have to do better than the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka, and the Chinese had to do better than the Bumiputera in Malaysia, except it’s the reverse, and are even sentenced more leniently for offenses. So rather than say than the Uighurs are oppressed by the
Han, the Han are being oppressed by themselves.

So what IS the problem?

The problem is two-fold. First, ethnic identities. Fundamental differences exist between the Uighurs and the Han. The most apparent one is religion (the Uighur are Muslims). These differences, when not handled properly, exploded into violence, when deep-seated tensions and discontent amongst the two groups can no longer be contained, and are triggered by specific events, like the current riots caused by violence between a group of Han and Uighurs.

The second problem is economic. The divide between rich and poor is a much more serious threat to peace. Despite the onset of economic growth in Xinjiang, the uneven distribution of wealth can seriously threaten peace, especially if the issue is interpreted with the lens of ethnicity, like now.

In addition, when there is progress, states than have strong ethnic or regional identities tend to break away. It has happened before in history. When Napoleon conquered Europe, he exported the ideals of the French Revolution, such as liberty, the rule of law, to the other states. And when these states saw the potential to achieve these ideals, they decided to break away from French rule.

Likewise, when the Han dominated government brought economic growth to Xinjiang, it only increased the impetus for a breakaway movement to take ownership of that economic progress.

Having discussed the issues behind the rioting, what are the consequences?

It’s obvious. There are no winners in civil strife. The loss of life, the damage to property is on both sides. The progress and development that have occurred can be put to nought in the event of conflict. When that happens, everyone suffers, and when they blame each other from their economic and social predicament, they trap themselves in an endless struggle. Sri Lanka is the classic example of that struggle.

When the ugly beast of ethnocentrism is on a rampage, everyone in its way suffers.