Editorial
Tolerance more effective than military force in solving China's ethnic unrest
Chinese authorities have reported more than 150 deaths in ethnic riots that have broken out in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, while more than 1,000 people have been injured. The death toll exceeds that of last year's Tibetan protests.
After the riots broke out, police took away a large number of Uighurs, which sparked new protests. At the same time opposing protests by Han Chinese broke out, creating a turbulent situation of unrest between the two ethnic groups.
The People's Republic of China marks the 60th anniversary of its founding this year, and the country has developed into an economic power, approaching the position of the world's second-biggest economy. Yet it has been unable to solve ethnic problems that have continued since its founding, such as the Tibetan and Uighur problems. Is this not because it lacks tolerance with regard to respect for ethnic autonomy?
Suppression of ethnic minorities' human rights likely forms the background to the recent riots. We want Chinese President Hu Jintao to present to the international community a way of solving the problem that does not rely solely on armed suppression.
The full details of the riots remain unclear. Reports say that the riots were sparked by an attack on Uighur migrant workers in Guangdong Province. After information spread online, a demonstration was held at a park in Urumqi and the demonstrators clashed with security authorities who tried to suppress the protests. Uighurs who turned violent attacked Han Chinese in the area, and apparently set fire to a bus, among other targets.
An attack on Chinese border guards in Kashgar last year was deemed to be a terrorist attack by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, and resulted in suppressive surveillance of Muslims. This time, China blames the unrest on an international conspiracy led by the World Uyghur Congress. But if the initial cause is security authorities trying to forcefully suppress demonstrations over human rights violations, public security is unlikely to be restored without a solution to Uighurs' dissatisfaction over their situation.
Urumqi is divided into residential areas for Uighurs and for Han Chinese. It is not only the language, religion and customs of the two groups that are different; it is clear that there is an income divide. The same can be said for Tibet. Aren't problems with ethnic policies to blame for the fact that minorities in ethnic autonomous regions are poor and Han Chinese, who arrive from other areas, are relatively well off?
Deterioration of public order is not restricted to minority regions. Clashes between residents and police have been increasing all over China. In May alone there were about 25,000 demonstrations that had over 1,000 participants -- reportedly a record high. An increased number of protests over human rights violations and labor trouble contributed to the higher figure.
The world is paying attention to China's growth. Maintaining growth is dependent on whether the country can maintain a stable society. The true force measuring stability in society is not military power, it is broad-minded politics.
(Mainichi Japan) July 8, 2009