New Frontier, same old problems for China

On July 07, 2009, Dr. Wenran Jiang, Mactaggart Research Chair and Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Alberta, wrote an Op-ed article in the Globe and Mail newspaper commenting on the July 6 Uyghur riots occurred in the capital of China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Dr. Jiang noted in the paper that the unrest raises serious questions about China's stability, the distribution of its wealth and long-term relations between the Han majority and other ethnic groups.

Dr. Jiang first provided a historical and geopolitical background on the Xinjiang Region, followed by his opinion that force alone cannot maintain stability.

He holds the view that ethnic minorities' frustrations and grievances need to be addressed in the long run with innovative policy initiatives if Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao are to be true to their words of building a “harmonious society.”

You can read the article here.