ethnic minorities

Exclusive | Why minority languages are disappearing from some classrooms in Xinjiang but not Tibet

by
Exclusive | Why minority languages are disappearing from some classrooms in Xinjiang but not Tibet

Barry Sautman is a professor emeritus at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s Division of Social Science and visiting professor at Tsinghua University. An expert on China’s ethnic minorities, particularly the Tibetan and Uygur communities, his research focuses on minority rights, cultural preservation and social change. This interview first appeared in SCMP Plus. … Read more

China’s Xinjiang party chief Ma Xingrui meets top Temasek executives from Singapore

by
China’s Xinjiang party chief Ma Xingrui meets top Temasek executives from Singapore

The Communist Party chief of Xinjiang has held talks with top executives from Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund Temasek, as the western Chinese region continues its efforts to boost foreign investment. Ma Xingrui, party secretary for the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, met Temasek chairman Lim Boon Heng and executive director and CEO Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara in … Read more

China’s ethnic policy chief says minority artists must focus on common national identity

by
China’s ethnic policy chief says minority artists must focus on common national identity

The speech was published on Friday at China Minzu News, an official outlet focused on Beijing’s ethnic policies. Pan, who is ethnically Han, said he had observed a “disconcerting trend” in recent years where ethnic minority artworks were swayed by “Western multicultural theories”. He said: “This is evident in narrative models that isolate individual social … Read more

China’s ethnic policy chief slams ‘ignorance of history’ in Xinjiang assimilation claims

by
China’s ethnic policy chief slams ‘ignorance of history’ in Xinjiang assimilation claims

“There is an inaccurate narrative in the international community that separates Xinjiang culture from Chinese culture and even sets them against each other. But a large amount of archaeological evidence tells us that Xinjiang has been an important part of the Chinese cultural sphere since ancient times,” Pan said. “There is also an international narrative … Read more

How a US fashion designer teamed up with Chinese ethnic minorities to recreate their traditional clothing

by
How a US fashion designer teamed up with Chinese ethnic minorities to recreate their traditional clothing

This was 2012, when we first crossed paths in that otherwise splendid guest house set in Guizhou province’s unspoilt landscapes, where every journey unfolded along hours of serpentine roads. Dong minority artisans dye fabric with indigo created from tree bark. They say the dye is harmless and can be washed into the river. Photo: Justin … Read more