China : In the Uyghur region, a large number of students were mobilized to work in companies and factories

Prepared by our reporter from Washington, D.C.

This year, the authorities of the Uygur Autonomous Region have started activities to register students graduating from universities in the Uyghur Autonomous Region and mobilize them to work in companies and factories in the region. 

According to the news published on "Tangritag" on May 26, the number of students graduating from universities in the Uyghur Autonomous Region this year is 158,000, which is 32,000 more than last year. At present, Urumqi, Aksu, Kashgar, Yining, Turpan and other cities and provinces have started to register students who will graduate this year and encourage them to work in companies, factories, mines, factories and farms in the Uygur Autonomous Region.

The news of "Tangritag" also praised the job mobilization work of university students: "Carrying out the job placement service project in schools will bring welfare to the people and guarantee the protection of social stability." It turns out that the number of students who will graduate this year is not only huge, but the authorities have paid more attention to their employment than before.

 So why did the Chinese government begin to employ such graduating college students on a large scale this year? Why consider this a guarantee of maintaining social stability? Analysts observing the situation of the Uyghur Autonomous Region expressed their opinions about this action of the authorities of the Uyghur Autonomous Region.

 Mr. Ilshat Hasan, the vice president of the Executive Committee of the World Uyghur Congress, who has been closely monitoring the situation between China and Uyghur, paid attention to the activities of the Uyghur Autonomous Region authorities. On the other hand, due to the pressure to employ Chinese students who have been recruited more than the norm from their provinces, on the other hand, the needs of the Chinese companies that are constantly being established in the Uyghur region, which are described as "forced labor bases" by the Western countries led by the United States, have been observed.

According to "Tangritag" news, "Industrial parks" in various provinces have been mobilized to employ students who have graduated from colleges and "vocational technical schools" in the region. However, according to the reports of human rights organizations, such industrial parks, where manufacturing companies and factories are concentrated in China, are forced labor bases in those regions. It was revealed that a large number of Uyghurs were employed in these industrial parks under forced, low-wage and harsh labor and political conditions. In addition, factories were also established in the camps.

Mr. Ilshat Hasan said that while the Chinese government forced a number of Uyghurs from the so-called "re-education centers" in the region to work in Chinese factories set up in camps, today, college graduates are forced to work in factories set up by Chinese companies in the region. Through incentives, they are trying to supplement the labor force in these areas.

Mr. Jing Xuguang, an analyst of China's economic situation in New York, believes that the problem of not finding suitable jobs for college graduates in China is serious. That is, the problem of unemployment is getting worse. Therefore, it is the political task of various government agencies to solve this problem. This action of the authorities of the Uighur Autonomous Region is the implementation of the assigned task. Moreover, China's economic recession has worsened, which has a strong impact on youth unemployment.

Mr. Zheng Xuguang said about the factors that led to the growth of unemployment in China's current economic recession: "Currently, the relocation of the manufacturing sector in China to foreign countries is one of the important factors that caused the economic recession. Many job opportunities have shifted to Southeast Asia. For example, as Taiwanese companies in Shanghai and other international companies moved their Chinese factories to Southeast Asia, China's unemployment rate worsened. In addition, some manufacturing sectors have faced trade wars from Western democracies led by the United States. Factors such as increasing trade, economic and technological restrictions have exacerbated unemployment in China. As a result, a situation has arisen where students who were admitted to universities in excess of the norm in previous years are now unable to find jobs suitable for their professions. Masses of unemployed youth are putting serious pressure on the Chinese government in every way. Therefore, the Chinese government is now encouraging young people and university graduates to do things other than the original jobs they studied in universities, such as doing technical jobs, starting their own business, doing service jobs, and becoming rural cadres.

Ms. Zubaira Shamsin, a researcher at the Uyghur Human Rights Foundation in the United States, also shared her views with us. He said that encouraging university graduates to work in the factories of Chinese companies in the Uyghur region is aimed at solving the youth unemployment problem, and on the other hand, there is also a hidden desire to hide the "forced labor" problem that is happening in the Uyghur region.

Ms. Zubaira said that this may also be aimed at increasing the Chinese population, including keeping those from mainland China who are studying in Uyghur universities in Uyghur, and employing more young Chinese graduates from the mainland.

Disputed border : Satellite images 'reveal' expansion of China's facilities near Indian border

New satellite images reveal that China has significantly expanded its airfields along the disputed border with India to boost its air power.

Alisha Rehman Sarkar Saturday 3 June 2023 15:45

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According to images taken by San Francisco-based Earth imaging company Planet Labs PBC, Beijing has built several new airfields, helipads, railway networks, missile bases, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in some areas. Built roads and bridges (Planet Labs PBC)

New satellite images show that China has significantly expanded its airfields along the disputed border with India to boost its air power and has steadily increased its offensive capabilities since the bloody clash in 2020.

According to images taken by San Francisco-based Earth imaging company Planet Labs PBC, shared with The Independent, Beijing has used the Line of Actual Control (LOC) to counter India's dominance in some areas. LAC) has built several new airfields, helipads, railway networks, missile bases, roads and bridges.

According to an analysis of the same images by the Hindustan Times, images of airfields at Hotan, Ngarigansa and Lhasa in southwest China show Beijing has built new runways, fortified shelters and new operations to protect warplanes. It has increased its military strength by building buildings.

These three Chinese airfields are strategically located in the northern region of India stretching from west to east.

The nuclear-armed Asian nations, which have a decades-long history of rivalry over border claims, have been working for three years to defuse the latest tensions along the de facto border (LAC).

Relations between New Delhi and Beijing reached their worst level in years after clashes and bloody fighting in the Galwan Valley in June 2020. 20 Indian and four Chinese personnel were killed in this clash.

Photos released by Planet Labs last month showed a new runway, new aircraft and buildings to support military operations at Hotan Airfield in southwestern Xinjiang, about 400 kilometers from Leh in India. A new apron has also been constructed.

Recent images show unmanned aircraft (drones) operating from the airfield.

Initial images from June 2020 did not show any construction or expansion in the area near the airfield. The airfield was reportedly last expanded in 2002.

Ngari Gansa Airfield in Tibet Autonomous Region is located 200 km from Pangong Lake. There have been several clashes between the two armies in this region.

The airfield became operational in 2010 and was expanded after the 2017 standoff in the disputed Doklam region.

Satellite images from June 2020 showed only an aircraft apron with fighter jets, but an image from May this year revealed significant progress, including the construction of a new taxiway and improvements to the runway.

2023 also saw at least 16 aircraft shelters and buildings supporting aircraft and military operations.

The airport of the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region has long been used for both civil and military purposes. Lhasa Airfield is located less than 250 km from Tawang. It is the western part of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, the eastern part of which is claimed by China.

New satellite images show a new runway and a new apron with at least 30 new shelters and new support buildings.

According to the report, construction of underground facilities south of Lhasa Airfield has been ongoing in the last few years.

Damien Simon, a researcher at Intel Labs, told Hindustan Times that the developments at the airfields reflect China's strategic intent in the region. Under which to increase its military capabilities to counter the superiority of India.

He said: 'The ongoing construction activities here, along with prominent and varied deployments at these locations that include the use of drones and advanced aircraft, indicate China's efforts to enhance its offensive capabilities, particularly India's. In light of the tense border situation.

"This development is crucial to fundamentally changing air warfare dynamics, expanding China's operational range and recognizing challenges to India's deterrence strategy," Simon added.