Xinjiang, China \u2014 I, Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, Chair of MUI for External\nRelations and International Cooperation and Professor at the Faculty of\nAdab, UIN Jakarta, together with Buya Dr Anwar Abbas, Vice Chairman of\nMUI, accepted an invitation from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs\nto visit Xinjiang, China. The five-day diplomatic visit focused on\nUrumqi and Kashgar from 17 to 21 May. We received important briefings on\neconomic development, infrastructure, and the condition of Muslims in\ngeneral. We obtained an overview of how rapidly China is modernising,\nthe wealth of energy resources, and Xinjiang\u2019s multicultural environment\nmore broadly.<\/p>\n
Transformation of the Ancient Silk Road into the Modern Belt and\nRoad<\/p>\n
The ancient Silk Road of China was originally a network of trade and\ncivilisational links connecting China with Central Asia, the Middle\nEast, Africa, and Europe. The route was not only a conduit for trading\nsilk, spices, and assorted commodities but also a vehicle for cultural\nexchange, knowledge, religion, and technology between nations. In the\nmodern era, this Silk Road has been transformed by China through the\ndevelopment of a global infrastructure network known as the Belt and\nRoad Initiative (BRI).<\/p>\n
Through these projects, China is building railways, ports, roads,\nindustrial zones, and digital connectivity that connect Asia, Africa,\nthe Middle East, and Europe within a single modern economic and\nlogistical system. The Silk Road is conducted along two corridors: the\nSilk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.<\/p>\n
This transformation has enabled China to accelerate flows of trade,\nthe distribution of goods, investment, and human mobility on a global\nscale. Whereas the ancient Silk Road moved by caravan and sail, today\nthat connectivity is delivered via high-speed rail, giant container\nships, modern airports, and digital networks. The impact on economic\ngrowth in many countries has been substantial due to increased trade and\ninfrastructure development. Yet, the project has also sparked\ngeopolitical competition, as some Western nations view it as China\nexpanding its economic and political influence. This concerns Western\ncountries, particularly the United States.<\/p>\n
Muslims and Multicultural Xinjiang<\/p>\n
Xinjiang is a multi-ethnic region in western China that has long been\na crossroads of the ancient Silk Road. The Muslim population is the\nlargest group in the region, primarily from the Uighur ethnicity,\nfollowed by Kazakh and Hui. Islam arrived in Xinjiang in the eighth\ncentury through trade and preaching from Central Asia, and has grown\ninto an important part of Uighur cultural identity. It is said that\naround half of Xinjiang\u2019s population is Muslim.<\/p>\n
Amid China\u2019s rapid modernisation, Muslims in Xinjiang remain to\npreserve their identity through language, family traditions, halal food,\nand mosque life. For the Uighur community, Islam is not only a religion\nbut also a cultural and social identity.<\/p>\n
The Chinese government is promoting large-scale economic development\nand infrastructure in Xinjiang, while at the same time imposing strict\ncontrols on religious activity in the name of maintaining stability and\npreventing clashes between different groups and the possible emergence\nof extremism. Therefore, Muslims in Xinjiang live between two currents\nand face major challenges: rapid modernisation and efforts to preserve\nIslamic identity and culture. This is also experienced by Muslims\neverywhere. This cultural identity is important because of its links to\ngovernment policy, public acceptance, and the fair realisation of\ncitizens\u2019 rights. The public roles of Muslims deserve proportional\nattention.<\/p>\n
Extremism and Terrorism<\/p>\n
In Xinjiang, the issue of terrorism and extremism develops within a\ncomplex social, cultural, and political context. This issue also arises\nin many countries including Indonesia. Xinjiang is an ethnically diverse\nregion with a Muslim Uighur majority, historically possessing strong\ncultural and religious identities. As happens in several other\ncountries, the rapid modernisation and rapid economic development in\nChina have given rise to social challenges, including identity tensions,\ndevelopment gaps, and the influence of transnational radical\nideologies.<\/p>\n
The Chinese government asserts that since the 1990s there have been\nseveral acts of violence and separatism linked to extremist groups,\nincluding those alleged to have connections with transnational radical\nnetworks. For the government, extremism and terrorism pose a serious\nthreat to social stability, public safety, and national unity.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the government pursues counter-terrorism and\nderadicalisation policies through security approaches, social\nsurveillance, vocational education, accelerating economic development\nand poverty alleviation. For the Government, these measures aim to\nmaintain stability, prevent violence, and improve the welfare of the\npeople.<\/p>\n
These policies have attracted international attention and debate,\nparticularly on human rights, freedom of religion, and the preservation\nof cultural identity. The United States is among the strongest critics.\nBehind such criticisms there is a political agenda. Consequently,\nXinjiang affairs are often viewed as requiring a balanced approach,\ncombining security, development, respect for culture, and humanitarian\ndialogue.<\/p>\n
The MUI believes that the concept of Wasathiyah Islam deserves an\nopportunity to be socialised and implemented, including in China. God\nknows best.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-visit-to-xinjiang-1779546129", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }