How I interpret the Xinjiang problem

In this video I’ll explain the moral arguments that caused the Xinjiang controversy. I also explain how China justified its revision policy which most see as ‘heavy-handed’. This is my own interpretation.
If you enjoyed this video, check out the additional episode where I shared what inspired me to discuss Xinjiang and my other thoughts on this political dilemma:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/33wmMQ5... (Just search 'My Xinjiang Problem')
Essay version: 'My Xinjiang Problem' - siminglan.home.blog/2023/08/0...
Connect with me on social media (China look & bite-sized thoughts):
Ins: / siming_lan
Twitter: / siminglan
Blog: siminglan.home.blog/
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References
🌿Uyghur narrative
Kamalov, A. (2021) ‘Uyghur historiography’: doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780...
Tursun, N (2008) ‘The Formation of Modern Uyghur Historiography and Competing Perspectives toward Uyghur History’
Thum, R (2018) ‘The Uyghurs in Modern China’: oxfordre.com/asianhistory/dis...
🌿 On eurocentrism and colonialism
Krishna, S. (2017) ‘China is China, Not the Non-West: David Kang, Eurocentrism, and Global Politics’, Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, 77(1), pp.93-109
Mukherji, P. (2007) ‘Nation and the States, the Nation-State: Liberation from conceptual eurocentrism’, Rajagiri Journal of Social Development, 3 (2) pp.121-174
🌿 China-focused historiography & analysis
Ang, J (2016) ‘Sinicizing the Uyghurs’, Peace Review: A Journal of Social Justice, 28(4), pp.399-406
Chunshan, M. (2014) ‘The Two Faces of the Uyghurs’, The Diplomat:thediplomat.com/2014/05/the-t...
Wang, E. (1999) ‘History, Space, and Ethnicity: The Chinese Worldview’ Journal of World History, 10(2), pp. 285-305
Tiezzi, S. (2015) ‘ISIS Releases Chinese Language Propaganda Video’, The Diplomat:thediplomat.com/2015/12/isis-...
Mao, Tse-Tung. (2013) Selected Works of Mao Tse-Tung, Volume 4, Foreign Languages Pres; On People’s Democratic Dictatorship: www.marxists.org/reference/ar...
Davis, E. (2008) ‘Uyghur Muslim Ethnic Separatism in Xinjiang, China’, Asian Affairs: An American Review, 35(1), pp. 15-29
Mackerras, C (2010) ‘Xinjiang at the turn of the century: The causes of separatism’, Central Asian Survey, 20(3), pp.289-303
🌿Xinjiang history 🌿
Li, S. et al (2013) Xinjiang of China: its past and present (‘中国新疆历史与现状）, China Intercontinental Press
James A. Millward (2007) Eurasian Crossroads: A History of Xinjiang, Columbia University Press
🌿China’s social discourse on Pan-Islamism in Xinjiang (Mandarin)
mp.weixin.qq.com/s/mDYSXDoQwN...
mp.weixin.qq.com/s/vI3iVFL0cp...
mp.weixin.qq.com/s/iwrdveP492...
posts.careerengine.us/p/5b138...
weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id...
pk.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/ml...
How China tells Xinjiang history: www.rmlt.com.cn/2019/0129/5385...
🌿The western sphere 🌿
Phelim Kine (2021) ‘How China hijacked the war on terror’, Politico:www.politico.com/news/2021/09...
Roberts, S. (2020) The War on the Uyghurs: China’s Internal Campaign against a Muslim Minority, Princeton University Press
Millward, J. (2004) ‘Violent Separatism in Xinjiang: A Critical Assessment’, East-West Center Washington: www.eastwestcenter.org/sites/...
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Tags:
Xinjiang; Uyghurs; Muslims; Islam; Camps; reeducation; Chinese politics; Video essay; documentary; xinjiang controversy; nation states; terrorism; three evils; separatism; extremism; CPC; CCP; understanding china
Subs: 29600
Chapters:
Intro [0:00]
Explain the Xinjiang problem [2:00]
Uyghur [3:06]
China [5:15]
China's logic behind the 'centres' [7:40]
Commentary [9:12]
On heavy-handedness [10:16]

[@SimingLan]

If you enjoyed this video, check out the additional episode where I shared what inspired me to discuss Xinjiang and my other thoughts on this political dilemma: Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/33wmMQ5pA1uOofRpoPYYyI (Just search 'My Xinjiang Problem') Essay version: 'My Xinjiang Problem' - siminglan.home.blog/2023/08/05/my-xinjiang-problem/

[@peekaboopeekaboo1165]

Dear Siming ... you didn't mention who're the manufacturers of Halal utensils and toiletries (Han or Uyghur) ? Was it the provincial government or Central government that ordered the Muslim-only/Uyghur only public regulation ?

[@hugozhang8911]

Have you read xingjiang police files? Google it if you have not.

[@systemicanalysis5249]

China has been a unified state far longer thean the nation states of europe & the territory has been part of China for more than a 1,000 years. CaptainCool07 was right.

[@zetristan4525]

The comment you loved was your own one!☺️

[@lisaconnor3075]

I think it's quite telling that you cite Machiavelli as an authority on good governance. Unfortunately, doing so reinforces every negative stereotype of Chinese people in terms of dishonesty and manipulation. I find it hard to admire that type of "cunning" and think the disinfectant of truth is a virtue that is inherent in genuinely good governance.

[@ob2862]

Hello, your channel is a must. I lived 10 years in China and now back in France, I try to fight the many misinformations about your country. I wrote a series of articles about it on my blog and I share a lot of views with you. Thank you.

[@mikeyangyang8816]

Thank you for your contributions in informing the world. I must, however, say that the mainstream media of the west is not "misinformed" in a literal sense; the western media benefits from displaying foul information about China (political, financial, or popular favors).

[@ob2862]

@@mikeyangyang8816 Well, I don't think they make much effort to correct that. Even correspondents seems to write their papers on a sofa.

[@fengzhu4340]

​@@ob2862thank u for the effort,love from china❤

[@triumphanttrump1467]

wow, 10 years is a long time for ccp to brainwash your mind

[@sat_gur4334]

You are not Muslim and trying to defend the government that is directly attacking their faith 9:45 that's one of way to suppress faith

[@iskanderegberts1472]

Thanks for offering this perspective and very brave to cover this topic. Keep up!

[@victorkol1]

Been waiting for a new video for ages. And finally it is here.

[@deanthroop8054]

Appreciate this content. You brought up a lot of things few in the West know. Thank you for your effort and exposing yourself to gte negative side of the Internet. Positive thoughts for you and your family.

[@BlakeMerriam]

Thank you for your research and sharing your point of view. I really enjoy it. :)

[@Civicsminustheheadache]

This has been one of the best explanations of the Uyghur situation and definitely more valuable than most of the videos on the subject. The only thing I find weird about the situation is that in the United States is that people on the right will constantly blame China for persecuting against Uyghur Muslims in China. I am not saying that China is entirely innocent, but what I am saying is that the people that speak out in support of Uyghur Muslims would otherwise be anti Muslims in other circumstances. People who would otherwise be Islamaphobic are all of the sudden in support of the Uyghur Muslims when they can blame China for something once again. I am not in agreement with most, if not all of China's decisions, but some in the west (not all) are so anti China that they seemingly look for excuses to blame China for things.

[@pbworld7858]

Well, as they say, the west hates Muslims and they hate the Chinese. But for some reason, they are so concerned about Chinese Muslims. They recently tried it with the Hui, but that plan went south.

[@CapsAdmin]

I don't get the sense that the majority of the right is anti muslim, nor do I get the sense that the right is the only group criticizing china about this issue. However you could say that people on the right were the first to bring this up.

[@jamirajamira7303]

It's not just the "right".

[@mabelaero]

@@jamirajamira7303 yes, it's actually usually the "left" that uses issues like Xinjiang to criticize China, the 'right' usually just come out and say we don't like China because they're a threat to us.

[@PadraicLey56]

You are right, and I agree. The US and China are in the cold war started by the US, obviously. CIA's role is to dis-stabilize the enemy's internal affairs. A playbook of the CIA for decades, if not a century, under a different named. America's ideal is a democracy, but democracy is not stable and needs a lot of marketing effort using Hollywood and changing history books like slave practice. The final judgment is prosperity for all people has to be there. In the practical matter, once a country is in democracy. There will be more than two opinions to run a country, two parties, and two financial backing on two ideologies. When there are two, the CIA can support one against the other as the sponsored Party becomes the US puppet. That is how the US stays on the top in a rough draft at the national level. So the US evening news only broadcasts the bad of China, not the good of China; even this News network has freedom of the press. But they are not accessible realistically because they want to be profitable. They have to bias to get an audience. So far, China is less to do that, but it will increase the polarization between the two people. Each tries to market their system as a better one for their people. That would make sense to me. How often will you tell your wife or girlfriend that you are bad? After all, you can't have too much disagreement for a country to advance, especially in a cold war. So those Muslim attacks in China are good for the US, and those attacks in the US are bad from an American point of view. A blatant double standard is, by the way, a widespread human behavior.

[@PhilKelley]

Thank you for another thought-provoking video. You are providing me with numerous examples of "How the News Makes Us Dumb" (an excellent book, BTW) about China. One of the antidotes to "the news" is in-depth analysis of current issues, and you have given us a strong dose.

[@gt2250]

Hopefully after the in-depth knowledge, one can reach their own conclusion that this is a government that will by no way change its way of dealing with its people, whether they are terrorists, separatists, Uyghur, or any "common people" with different opinions. And that is a fact. Hope everyone at least keeps that in mind when carefully viewing biased news. For the benifit of Chinese people. Speaking from a Chinese that has seen way too much suffering, brutal, unjust, caused by the unfettered power.

[@APLWORLD]

Thanks! For the new video 📹. It's been a while.

[@sumyamchi]

You're understanding of Uyghur history doesn't include critical facts like non-Uyghur ethnics ALREADY residing as the majority in Xinjiang BEFORE the Uyghurs existed there. Hans and Mongols were resident in large numbers over a thousand years before them. During the late Tang Dynasty, the Turkic ancestors of the present day Uyghurs migrated from both Central Asia, Dyungaria and Mongolia which resulted in the ethnic mix of what we today call the "Uyghurs".

[@LalaLa-ze7kv]

I wouldn't call 3% of the han population of Xinjiang in 30-s a "large number". And if we are going to talk about the "thousand years" deep in the history than chinese will have to give their territory to the mongols.

[@ranii3116]

the han you are talking about is already mixed with mongols, manchuria and a lot of other ethnicity.

[@tianyijiang2178]

@@LalaLa-ze7kv The Mongols, as a member of China, owns Chinese land, just like the rest of the 55 ethnic groups, so how can we talk about "giving it back" to them?

[@TARIM-TUMAN]

твоя территория за твоей - ,,Стеной"Ферштейн ?! а басни кпк пиши для себя и др. китайцм ши ми дур шима?

[@IyanBersahaja]

​@@ranii31161:09 y

[@dannyboy8850]

Siming we have been missing you for a long time. Welcome back. 👍👍👍

[@SimingLan]

I also missed talking to you guys too. It's good to be back! 😊

[@PracticaProphetica]

Very well presented. Situations like this are always more complicated than politically-motivated critics make them out to be. As a religious person, I can partly understand the Chinese government position. They don't want people mixing religion with politics, and then using their religion as an excuse to foment rebellion. I strongly believe in the separation of religion and state. True religion should be about moral improvement, so that a person lives by godly principles, and not selfish motives. It has nothing to do with setting up a kingdom on this earth. In fact, religious kingdoms on this earth tend to be very oppresive. Consider the persecutions in the middle ages of Europe, under the Catholic domination, for example. But many religions, such as Islam, Catholicism, and even some Protestant groups, seem to have the idea that God wants to rule the world through them. This can put them directly in conflict with civil rulers.

[@johnsinclair4621]

@anglohan5428But yeah, of course it’s not absolutely the same.

[@luigisacco2187]

@anglohan5428 is this a bot?

[@danielch6662]

@anglohan5428 a free HK is not economically viable. This was the whole reason the Brits returned it to China. They didn't have to. Not all of HK was on a 99 year lease. Britain held HK island in perpetuity. But if China decided to stop trading with HK, what were the people there going to do? It only exists to provided services to China. There is no other economic activity.

[@jessieliu1731]

Totally agree with this. There no need to immediately sympathise with people when they want ‘ independence’, even though you want to respect human rights. Some separatist movements won’t bring more prosperity and individual freedoms to the people. And trying to stop the spread of separatist has 2 means, political educations and economic integration, and war when actual extreme Islamic state is formed. A lot of those separatists were trained by the jihadist and sent back to Xinjiang

[@malakatan3235]

China try prevent another Libya or Syria, where Terrorists funded by CIA in Syria start trying to spread their influence into China. Uniquely...in Muslim countries, like Indonesia, they really do cultural Genocide of Chinese, even many real genocide take place in Indonesian history.Do you ever heard Western media saying this?

[@bin.s.s.]

You are a brave young lady who dares to tilt at a giant windmill, as I'm sure that all the China haters can't be moved or have the tolerance to follow your narrative.

[@deanthroop8054]

People are often set in their thinking. It is not the people in the West that she needs to be afraid of saying the things she says. How long will she be able to travel by not repeating the party line? How many work opportunities will disappear for her and her family? If she becomes influential enough, she will just disappear.

[@bin.s.s.]

@@deanthroop8054 You mean if she makes trouble for the law and the authority to a sufficient degree then she should be in trouble? I agree. It's for certain in any country or a small town when you challenge their local law or ethical rules that you dislike.

[@deanthroop8054]

@@bin.s.s. just so you are aware. In the West, saying the government is doing something wrong or unethical is not grounds for punishment.

[@davidchen4683]

@@deanthroop8054 I feel sad for it, but what you mentioned is true

[@bin.s.s.]

@@deanthroop8054 Understandable. In some regions marital infidelity or blasphemy against God/Allah could be heinous crime. As some videos of this channel well explained, you may take the strong sense of unity as a big family (political stability) as that kind of a collective code in many areas in China. As you may not be aware, criticizing the government for their mistakes or corruption is quite a norm in every aspect of China, e.g., things like inconvenient transportation, soaring prices, scandals, etc. You are only supposed not to kick over the table, challenge the system and break the collective code.

[@jondoh9414]

This would probably be an extremely long topic to cover thoroughly. But one of the things that should be mentioned is what China does to address radicalism, such as giving people legal education to let them know the rights they are entitled to and their obligations as citizens, so that people have a legal recourse instead of resorting to violence. Secondly, teaching the common tongue and vocational skills of their choice to increase employability. People who live a productive and fulfilling life are generally going to be less discontent so you won't have a fertile breeding ground for terrorism bc people are destitute with nothing better to do with their lives. So literally giving people a good life decreases the recruitment pool for extremists. Thirdly, literally just teach them about the consequences of extremism and how it affects the people around them and who it harms. Like how their actions affect their families and why extremism is wrong. It's a remarkably simple thing but somehow these radicals don't really think through their actions, so making them conscious of their choices is critical. And the reason why I know all of this is of course bc I'm a Wumao. Just kidding. Politics is like drugs, not even once, or you get lost in it. There is also stuff America/West does to promote terrorism against their enemies/competitors (funding, arming, and training terrorists) to encourage separatism. Global politics is dark.

[@jondoh9414]

Btw, Mao was exactly right. I don't know why anyone thinks it is a good idea to give malicious elements the power to undermine, disrupt, distort, decay, and destroy normal society. Bringing harm to your own civilization, hurting countless innocents just to signal your own moral superiority? That is ridiculous.

[@jasonsoo6138]

Malaysian Chinese here. This comment deserves a big push! This is exactly what I think as well.

[@Stephen-we6do]

Amazing comment that provides feedback and another point of view.

[@johnmassey2980]

@anglohan5428 We in Hong Kong are already free, thank you, but I appreciate your truly genuine concern for our welfare (cough).

[@skydragon23101979]

The problem is not teaching the common tongue but suppressing the Ughyrus tongue. Like what Sinming mentioned it’s also about political identity whether a liberation or independence movement is considered terrorism.

[@MrEckardt]

You are so brave. You have my respect.

[@fabiojoseassis20]

So good to see your videos again!

[@jeffreyhall3625]

Great video, once again! A video like this can really help those outside of the issue to see a more comprehensive view to what is clearly a very complicated situation. Having lived in China for a few years, I often struggled with my feelings/opinions over certain issues and pieces of culture so foreign to my own -- this topic being one of them. In most cases, I discovered a vast majority of these topics are extremely complicated, way more so than I originally presumed. Thank you for exploring your thoughts on this issue, it's truly food-for-thought for both those who have strong ties to China and for those who have no ties, yet only hear one narrative. Thanks for taking the time to welcome us to the table and for putting in the effort to make such videos.

[@davidchou1675]

What no Taiwan LOL U.S. OUT OF NORTH AMERICA!!!

[@hyc1266]

@@davidchou1675 U.S out of the world. Our world will have NO PEACE unless U.S. is "down" or gone.

[@marcob4630]

Always saying "it's complicated" (!) is only a way for hiding atrocities committed by the Cinese governement

[@dariang4725]

hot take: genocide is bad. Why do people think Xnjian is such a complex topic. It's not. Genocide is bad. The nuance is just noise.

[@marcob4630]

It's also genocide !! @@dariang4725

[@StephenfromChch]

Well said Siming. With this sort of understanding hopefully we can bring harmony to the disputing forces.

[@fe2739]

It’s so good to see your video again😊

[@potts995]

Very interesting analysis that adds context to the situation!

[@user-ze3bd9ub9t]

Great Machiavelli quote. Here is some Voltaire: " truly, whoever can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities "

[@davidchou1675]

Yeah like the long and still ongoing history of Western hypocrisy LOL

[@liyuanqian9143]

I know that when Western press found "eye witnesses" claiming to have seen public caning conducted at the public square in Singapore.

[@MustAfaalik]

@user-ze3bd9ub9t. Similarly, "a tree is known by the fruit it bears". Seems like we are comment about the founder of a toxic faith.

[@jasonjean2901]

Good quote. Now lets apply it. Which country has hegemony over most of the world and has been making people believe in absurdities for a long time now? As so many China commentators have pointed out: "the U.S. doesn't care about Muslims, and they don't care about the Chinese, but what they really care about are Chinese Muslims."

[@alistairsavoury1074]

Thank you for another fine video. I think the bottom line is, that all religions must not be allowed to mix with political management of any state. They sow more division and disruption of everything from human values to industry. Sure you can have your faith, but it cannot be allowed to dictate, or we would still be stuck in the Dark Ages.

[@simongregory3114]

The problem with this is that it's not always possible to disentangle the 2 things. For most of human history they were the same. I believe we are living in a new dark age now anyway, where ideologies take the place of religion, and you speak against them at your peril.

[@user-um7mr6de7q]

你说的很对，中国是允许有宗教自由的（700万天主教徒，2300万基督教徒以及更为庞大的穆斯林教徒），但宗教不能凌驾于政权之上。

[@HTeo-og1lg]

Firstly, please allow me to commend you on your intelligence and wisdom. IMHO, your thoughts are profound, and your nuanced articulation of them is exquisite. I agree very much with your view on the "Xinjiang controversy". Thank you!

[@drmati613]

Thanks; that was a very enlightening explanation!

[@SimingLan]

thank you!!❤️

[@listohan]

I have been looking forward to another video from you. I like to approach propositions as a devil's advocate so you have given me much to think about. Is it time for a Chinese federation so differences can be preserved and even tolerated in a regulated way? I am also in awe of your grasp of English. It certainly does not sound like your subsequent language. It is so good I am uncomfortable even mentioning it.

[@skydragon23101979]

I highly doubt it, but I do hope that there can be other better ways at handling differences in opinions and ideas then heavy handed means. Why I highly doubt a federation would work is because stability and unity is one of the top few concerns of leaders in China. Those two values come above any forms of freedom and liberty.

[@listohan]

@@skydragon23101979 At considerable cost to the citizens, they don't seem to realise stability and unity can best be achieved by "freedom and liberty" (the same thing). At what stage do they ask: how best can we serve our citizens-it should be about the citizens, not about those in power.

[@skydragon23101979]

@@listohan Why do you see stability and unity as equals to freedom and liberty? It is almost always at odds. That’s because to ensure stability you need strict rules for a densely populated country and unity means that you need a collective mindset and obey rules that you can only have very limited liberty and freedom within those framework

[@listohan]

@@skydragon23101979 It's not what I said. I said freedom and liberty are the same thing.

[@listohan]

@@skydragon23101979 I said "freedom" and "lberty" are the same.

[@silverskid]

You are right to point out at the outset that this situation is not an example of genocide, nor is it comprable to The Holocaust. As a Westerner from the US, I see a great deal of hypocrisy in the relentless condemnations of Chines policies in Xianjing. While I don't condone those policies, they are far from being historically unusual and that includes recent history of the US and European powers. There's no comparison between the utter disregard for the lives of innocent Iraqis in the 2010s, for example, and this. I could add Libyans, Syrians, Afghans (many who helped the US forces yet now face possible deportation and lack asylum with a path to citizenship). Now the US gov't has decided to simultaneously fight a proxy war against Russia and prepare for war over Taiwan-- a quasi-autonomous part of 'one China' with no US embassies, no seat at the UN and no recognition as a sovereign nation-state by any but 5 marginal states (e.g. Beliz,Haiti, Guatemala and Vatican City). Nevertheless, Biden says if CCP decided to use military means to directly control Taiwan, then it would be "the equivalent of Ukraine, or maybe worse, and we'd put boots on the ground." A country like mine, with at least 800 military bases around the world, and which has known not even one full year of peace in this century, and which has engaged in "nation building" and attempts to alter culture in various parts of the world (e.g. Afghanistan) with terrible results, should examine its own record before stridently denouncing China's approach to regions it has long claimed as part of itself. This does not mean that I personally agree with the "heavy-handed" approach. But it's not a Hitlerian scenario, and in fact, as geopolitics go, not terribly unusual. This is NOT like the ethnic cleansing that occurred in the Balkans in the 90s; it's NOT like Nazi's "Final Solution" and Camps; and it isn't even half as bad as the many overthrows of actual sovereign nation state by outright war (Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan) or CIA-backed coups (Pinochet in Chile, Argentina (elected Pres. Isobel Peron's gov't), and many others. Is this "whataboutism?" If that means an instance of hypocrisy, of the pot calling the kettle black, then I guess so. It's worth stressing that right now the US admin considers itself to be the sole legitimate leader of the "international rules based order." The rules it imposes on others do not appear to be binding on the US itself. I love the US and the freedoms we still have here at the domestic level (even though these have come under attack by extremists on the Right here). I have also studied Chinese history and culture, and as a College Instructor, I've gotten to know several of the Chinese students (i.e. Chinese nationals or recent immigrants studying here). I think peaceful coexistence is not only possible but necessary to global stability and sustainability in the 21st C and beyond. I recommend renowned economist, Keyu Jin's book, The New China Playbook. She's from China but was educated in the US for High School and College and now teaches at the London School of Economics. Worth a look. Most people here just reflexively vilify all things Chinese with little or no background knowledge due to the constant onslaught of fear mongering propaganda that began around 2015. Interesting to hear your thoughts. Much respect. Thanks.

[@nanjiang1953]

Agreed. I was in Yosemite last week and I was so disturbed upon learning the California genocide committed by U.S. and California government backed Mariposa battalion. Comparing the degree of genocide committed by the U.S., I think China did terrible job doing genocide just like children play. The Xinjiang genocide would have became a non-issue today just like California genocide if China did the same. Of course many countries may have moral grounds blaming what China did in Xinjiang but Anglo-Saxson nations are definitely not among them.

[@somluck2813]

Indeed, I seem to recall quite a few years ago, couple or few states wanted to leave the Union and the Federal Government sent the army in and there was something called a civil war Federal Government will only tolerate a certain amount of state independence and states rights.

[@linusmayden8465]

Don't forget U.S. treats Hispanic immigrants like trash in their own detention centers.

[@martiddy]

The term concentration camp does not necessarily mean an extermination camp, it's just a place where people are placed there against their will without committing any actual crime. Which is what China did (and is still doing) with the Uyghur people. So, using this term is not wrong when talking about the situation about Uyghurs. Especially when they cannot leave such places in the first place.

[@qyyang1001]

​​@@martiddyyou are only talking about the literal meaning to the phrase "concentration camp" while this term carries so much more sentimental meaning in the majority of Western citizens because of the horrific history of Holocaust. To disregard that component is to force objectivity on an non objective topic.

[@SpitfireRoblox]

Long long waiting... Finally appears again. Great!

[@howardjohnson9239]

Thank you for explaining this in a very clear and precise manner. Also, no country can stand by and allow someone to commit terrorist acts against their people. America is a prime example of this we would not stand for it in our country we cannot expect less of another country.

[@davidchou1675]

They're already free, thank you very much -- free from Western color revolutions.

[@lttan2867]

You're right.But your gov't are promoting hates and creating war around the world.

[@user-nm8lb7zt7q22]

During the Republic of China period, 9 out of 10 Chinese people, or even more, were slaves from generation to generation, oppressed by millions of warlords, landlords, and evil gentry, who were cruel and anti human generations, almost never able to turn over, without food or clothing. The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army led by Mao Zedong launched a magnificent Chinese People's Democratic Revolution for the liberation of humanity, fighting against the very few anti human slave oppressive organizations that oppressed the slave people. In the end, they defeated the government of the Republic of China, allowing the Chinese people, who accounted for one fourth of the world's population, including the people of Xinjiang and Tibet, to turn around and completely liberate themselves. This human right alone is unprecedented in human history. He saved the human rights of the entire Chinese people and completely changed their fate of being enslaved and oppressed for generations. And, on the other hand, wholeheartedly serving the people, and even providing free medical insurance, free housing, and free education for all, The Chinese people are no longer the slaves and oppressed objects of the Republic of China and previous generations, but the service objects of the Chinese government and the CPC. Everyone is equal and the people are united. This is also the main reason why, in Mao Zedong's words, billions of Chinese people are willing to go through fire and water for him. The United States is shouting about democracy and human rights, but what it does behind its back is anti human rights and anti democracy. The disasters they have caused to humanity, including the American people, are countless.

[@watchonjar]

bro they are litterally genociding them

[@hyc1266]

@@watchonjar US is genocide them by sanction products produced by them, not China. US is trying to make their life hard while China provides happy life for them for hundreds of years. US is bombing them in Middle-East.

[@deathdoor]

Recently I saw someone summing up this "situation" very a simple and easy way to understand. After "they" stirred terrorism in the region, bothered by the political and economical influence of China coming earlier than expected, "they" got mad that China avoided the Afghan Trap building schools and vocational programas e invested more in the region instead of simple sending in the People's Liberation Army, like the Soviets did in the 80's.

[@taikonautaparawara]

@anglohan5428 Sai do fake Rainha Elizabeth!

[@KazzakLordOfDoom]

@anglohan5428 If you're gonna spew propaganda at least pronounce it right.

[@wheresmyeyebrow1608]

Ahuh and is this supposed to justify throwing people into prison for 15 years for reading the Qu’ran? People are acting like China is just rational actor when they’re going overkill for no good reason whatsoever. Yeah man all those 10s of thousands of diaspora who can’t see their families are totally just making it up for money or because they’re successionists.

[@kamilatusovamisezivot8326]

Thank you for your great work! I appreciate your open minded and self critical approach while you openly share your thoughts based on your research and studies 👏👏👏👍👍👍👌👌👌🌹

[@YoonLeeKok]

Thank you for this well balanced presentation.

[@tomchen513]

I am amazed by the work of such a young lady.

[@momofullofstars]

I really love your videos. I love the way you put both sides into perspective and not only a biased pov.

[@CharlesLaughlin]

I appreciate your analysis, and you present the Uyghur nationalist narrative fairly and without a negative bias. But you imply that the PRC has been consistent in its treatment of Xinjiang, not only since 1949, but with centuries or millennia of tradition before. In fact, the policy of Sinicization of Uyghurs is a very recent, unprecedented development. When I first visited Xinjiang in the 1980s, there was a lot more accommodation of Muslim cultural identity, religious practice and language use, and the establishment of the correctional camps (an apt term, as you might know that in the US, prisons are called "correctional facilities"), the removal of the most non-Chinese architectural features of mosques (not to speak of the destruction of some mosques altogether) goes far outside the pluralistic "autonomous region" model initially set up by the PRC. There is a fundamental contradiction between the concept of "autonomy" 自治 and what you call "loyalty to the Chinese." Also, when you put "heavy-handedness" in quotation marks, you are signaling that China is in fact not being heavy handed, while on the other hand, your quotation from Machiavelli at the end justifies the use of brutality in the maintenance of social order. Rather than quote Machiavelli, you might quote Confucius or Mencius, where they point out that virtuous rule naturally leads to people being happy to live in a place, and even to move there from neighboring states suffering from despotism.

[@deeali82]

To normalise kids in prison orphanage and forced sterilisation and erase most aspects of culture and religion is very close to genocide.

[@nickrao6891]

always nice to see debating voices

[@kachikol]

​@nickrao6891 Yeah, i got a feeling that no one's is debating on this channel. It gives the wrong impressions.

[@hyc1266]

Do you know that the Uyghurs language is printed on every single Chinese yuan dollar bills and on all public signs in XinJiang? I bet most people don't know because they can't read Chinese nor Uyghurs. Only foolish people who can't read Chinese nor Uyghurs will believe the lies about Uyghus being oppressed in China.

[@agnosticpagan]

If one is going to quote Machiavelli, they would better honor him by quoting from his Discourses on Livy and note that he was a true republican. He was also a realist, yet the Prince was written for the conditions that prevailed at that particular time and he was trying to persuade particular rulers at that time to hire him. He would be embarrassed that people thought that work was ever meant to be applied universally. He would be appalled by how his real magnum opus has been ignored.

[@azzevria8034]

The "two narrative" or "two different views of history" summary suggest that Xinjiang is a "Chinese vs Uyghur" problem - which happens to fall in line with the Washington Consensus. I would argue, Xinjiang is a "US vs China" problem : For the past two decades (from 2001), the Washington-led western powers, have been on one massive Holy War against Islam and Muslims. In those 20 years, Islamophobia, allegations of Islamic terrorists and terrorism were our daily bread, daily diet with supercharged steroids. Then, without warning, the same western powers suddenly became "Defenders of the Islamic Faith" - BUT only for Xinjiang's Uyghur muslims. How strange is that! Christian nations (that massacred 2 million Muslims over two decades) accused Beijing of persecuting Xinjiang Uyghur Muslims. Meanwhile, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (57 Muslim or Muslim-majority countries), having carried out their own fact-finding missions in Xinjiang, defended Beijing's handling of Muslim Uyghurs. It'd have been good if these verifiable factual points were at least mentioned in this video.

[@yesidromero7299]

Why I didn’t have a teacher like that in college?? Her presentation is clear and makes it interesting. Thank you.

[@ClaySuddath]

Truth is always more interesting than perverse fantasies or tangled webs of lies.

[@guigademon]

I really enjoyed the video! Thank you for sharing your perspective! However, I think the fundamental question here is to what extent the state has the right to enforce its control over people who don't want it. It's understandable that some see this as an integral territory, but many living there disagree. Can they truly be "taught" to alter their views on the state?

[@WeiLyu-lw2kr]

The real question is how do you define and from what stance can you define "who don't want it"? according to some narratives by western mainstream media? or are you willing to go to talk to local people by yourself and see with you own eyes? BTW, Xinjiang's never been a place only for Uyghur Chinese (44.96%), instead, it is also the homeland for Han Chinese (42.24% living there from ancient time) and other ethnic groups (12%, including Kazakhs, Mongols, etc.).

[@Giles20]

Don't you think you are making a big assumption that Uyghurs don't want to be in China? Can you back that up with data?

[@quazifaiyaz1]

​@@Giles20I mean there is clear separationist sentiment through what info there is in this video.

[@josha136]

​@@WeiLyu-lw2krI think OP is trying to refer to the reeducation camps; can the Chinese government install people in those facilities if they don't want to as a protective measure, even if they have never commited a crime? In my opinion, that should not be allowed. Not in China, but also not in the US or any other country. Someone has to be guilty to be put in a correctional facility

[@WeiLyu-lw2kr]

@@josha136 I agree with your idea that no one should be put into any correctional facility if he/she doesn't commit a crime. However, the reeducation camp is not a correctional facility as a punishment for guilt. Instead, it's a necessary measure to save those people who are brainwashed by extreme religious propaganda. These are just ordinary less educated people, farmers, street vendors, house wives, but they are one step closer to becoming another extremist if the government just let them go. Any responsible government should take measures to save them from doing harm to society and themselves.

[@princessa-qg5sm]

Thank you very much for this information. Hopefully the Chinese Muslims get there freedom and continue to resist.

[@hongqi5734]

I hope the Scottish and people of Wales will also get their independence, and the people of Falkland Island, Gibraltar and so will the Afro-Americans, Californians, Texans, Hawaiians, and Puerto Ricans. The people of Kashmir, the people of Sikkim, and the people of Nagaland and Mizoram.

[@OldOnes666]

@@hongqi5734 Yes, all people should have the right to freedom and to be independent. It seems like you think westerners that support Xinjiang wouldn’t support western groups wanting independence, which is strange but very common from Chinese nationalists. If California wants to become its own country, or Scotland, good for them and they have our support. All people should have the right to self-determination. All countries were created by people and if new countries are created then that is just continuing the history of humanity.

[@hongqi5734]

@@OldOnes666 So far I have not seen any Western support for their independence. You guys are good at lip service when being criticized.

[@OldOnes666]

@@hongqi5734 You haven’t seen support for who? Scottish people had a vote not that long ago and chose to stay in the UK. Now after Brexit it seems like there is a lot more support for independence. Obviously the UK government would be against it but many Scottish people are openly working for it. Calling for Scottish independence is not a crime and there are no reeducation camps to force them to be more British. California does not have an independence movement; I just used it as an example. So again, who are you referring to? I don’t know why it seems so hard to understand that open minded liberals around the world support independence movements of all kinds. There is no ani-China conspiracy singling it out. Yes politicians do that, politics is corrupt and evil in every country to some extent. But whether it’s Tibet or Palestine, Xinjiang or Northern Ireland, many people around the world support their right to self-determination without prejudice. My friends were attacked by police on the streets of Barcelona after they voted to separate from Spain, that is not lip service. That is just one of many localism movements around the world. Nationalism is outdated and backwards. Every human being shares the same origin in Africa. All counties are concepts that just exist in our minds. If a bird flies from Vietnam to China there is no change, there is no physical boundary, there is no physical reality to countries. So if one group of people wants to create a new country, why not? Who cares? Things change. National integrity is like a man saying his wife is his property. That's so 18th century, grow up and get over it.

[@m389nkfpe03]

@@hongqi5734 Scotland and Wales can choose to leave the UK if the people want it. This s the difference. In China there is no chance.

[@DanteM-um6fe]

GREAT JOB!!!!! This is such a difficult subject

[@Zerpentsa6598]

Like many people, one easy mistake to make is to talk as if Xinjiang has only Uyghurs. Xinjiang's population is very diverse with Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Hans, Kyrgyzs, Huis, Pamiris, Tajiks, Mongolians, Russians, Tibetans, Sibe, etc. China wants to safeguard the rights of each group. If the militant Uyghurs had their way, they would impose their fundamentalist Islamic lifestyle on all. Diversity would be stamped out as we see in other places ruled by Islamic fundamentalists. In fact, the ordinary Uyghur does not want that. They are by nature not fundamentalist in their religion and are tolerant.

[@hyc1266]

Unity and stability is the most priority of any nation.

[@TARIM-TUMAN]

​@@hyc1266никогда не будет Единства между всеядными безбожниками и уйгурами-мусульманами...это наше стальное Кредо...АМИИИНЬ..

[@TJ-Judge]

I agree. There is no acceptable place for fundamentalism anywhere. And propper Muslims would agree with that. We have to respect our nieghbors and live peacefully. And the militant fundamentalists are an issue to society. They cant be given special treatment because of their religion. If they are creating political unrest instability and divisiveness then the government needs to do something about that. Anyone committing crimes should be jailed. I dont believe that China is oppressing the Uighur people. I think that there are groups of separatist extremists that the Chinese government is suppressing.

[@koala6016]

I think there is plenty of evidence showing the Uygur activists/terrorists had associations with Al Qaeds, ISIS and others, trained by US and Saudi Arabia.

[@TD-yj8ch]

Screw it, we don’t need to be apologetic or defend Chinas policies. All people have to do is take a look at the differences in quality of life between Uyghurs vs black Americans vs Palestinians and it’s easy to see who is really committing genocide.

[@tobylo204]

I have just subscribed to your channel. "very refreshing" is the short comment I shall give. I am pro-China and not ashamed to admit it. But I do feel embarrassed when I see CGTN when they harped the party line once too often. I do hope there are more open minded discussions on the internet. It is used too much by people with agenda, that becomes an abuse. The world has never been balck and white, we just need to be smart enough to read thru it. Thank you Siming

[@jorgenudvang3507]

Thank you for making this excellent video. You are now on the list of my favourite KZbinrs.

[@tobywebb6452]

Very well explained, thank you. I think some countries in the west are losing their cultural identity by trying to appease

[@nyamkasplace9628]

Great video! Maybe this video is still on youtube because she explained more on Chinese side 😂

[@cesarang4402]

I just watched couple of your videos for the first time , very impressed of your diligence in researching the facts .leaving audience the options to choose their own opinions . Informative as I ponder the questions regarding the truth in the main steam media in the US & the West . Unfortunately most regular Americans either dont care or has no idea about the actual truth being broadcast in the main stream media nowadays . I used to watch those media outlet like CNN , Fox , ABC & others but realized they are controlled & have the same narrative in their news. I congratulate your work & very much appreciate the information you share .

[@YangsterBangs]

i like your videos, good topics, well presented.

[@LeagueUnionSevens]

Hi Siming! First of all, I want to say that I really admire your journey of self-development and the articulate way you’ve presented your experiences to us. It must take a lot of resilience to move to a new country and to expose yourself, for the first time, to some new information that makes you see the nation you’ve grown up in in a different light. And in addition to this, I really admire the way you’ve gone back and searched for the “other side” to the story - the one that the western narrative often evades or simply doesn’t have time to talk about - in order to reconcile the warm, supportive China you grew up (and no doubt the one you experience while you’re there) with the much colder, antagonistic one you hear about in the west. I understand and deeply share your desire to not be ashamed of who you are, to not feel lesser to people in the west, and to take pride in your family, your culture, and ultimately yourself. I do, however, have some questions that I would be interested to hear your perspective on. As a bit of background, I was born and raised in New Zealand. One half of my family are Māori (indigenous New Zealanders). The other half of my family are descended from British immigrants (the dominant group in NZ society today). I’m in my late-20s so I suspect not too different in age to yourself. I say all this because I think it is relevant - for the most part I’m interested in our internal politics, but my experience living in NZ obviously informs the way I see politics overseas. Also, for much of the past four years, I have lived in Taiwan and studied 中文. Your videos that address Xinjiang and Taiwan do a great job of adding to the conventional (one-sided) western narrative by presenting the Chinese government’s rationale for intervention in these regions - i.e. suppression of extremism and maintaining sovereignty/territorial integrity so as to not lose face amongst the Chinese public. However, I feel like while you’ve done a great job at explaining the *rationale* of the Chinese government, you haven’t really provided much of a counter/critique to it. Take, for instance, Xinjiang. As you’ve acknowledged, the issue faced by the separatists is that they’re under the rule of a government they never consented to ruling over them. And the issue faced by the government is terrorist attacks by said separatists (on civilians and said government). And I think “consent” is the key word here. Fortunately, we’re at an age where consent is well-understood at the level of individuals. If a man were to try to force himself on a woman without consent, we would (correctly, I believe) tell him not to do so - the obvious solution to this issue is to simply ask the woman “do you want to be with this man?”, and if she doesn’t then most would agree that the man should back away, let the woman live her life, and not try to claim the woman as his own. Of course, no one has asked the Uyghur people of Xinjiang if they consent to be paired with the Han-majority China, despite the desire of the latter. This could be easily achieved by having a free and fair referendum on independence for the region. However, this has not happened, and as such, this rule is not by consent. It seems clear to me, then, that the Chinese government is consequently the aggressor in this situation. China may claim that they have the “right” to rule over Xinjiang due to some constitutional documents (that they wrote), but how ethical is resorting to this justification if the Uyghur people themselves did not choose to be in this position? To me, this seems akin to man claiming he has eternal right to a woman simply because he has over-powered her in the past (see the Dzungar-Qing wars) - something anyone in their right mind surely wouldn’t agree with. ANYWAY, I guess the question I pose to you is twofold - 1) If you believe this analogy is an unfair way to conceptualise the situations in Xinjiang and Taiwan (noting that Taiwanese people *have* been polled and that they strongly oppose unification with China) - why are they different? And 2) If you can justify these contexts as different, how then does this result in greater justification of the actions taken by the Chinese government against these territories and their people? Sorry for the long message, I just want to say I’m really impressed by your videos so far, and I support you fully on your personal journey!

[@CodeMeat]

I won't throw you a wall of text, but let me give you back your example, the consent, So have the Uyghur people ever asked the other Chinese people for "consent"? Yes, not only Uyghur living in Xinjiang, ever think about it? It was a mixed region from the very beginning, and guess who was the first that settled there? Ruled there? Built the government there? Mate ,you will need to burn all the Chinese museums down. Then Taiwan, did the KMT government, or its followers ask the other Chinese people for "consent" when they retreated there? Did they ask the Chinese? People for the "consent" of taking all the gold, silvers, and national treasures, robbing the people clean, when they were retreating to Taiwan? Consent............. Have you or your politicians or your journalist ever asked the Chinese people, the ORDINARY CHINESE PEOPLE! For consent when you were throwing tons upon tons of lies, misinfo and hatred campaigns against them? Consent...sigh...

[@CodeMeat]

And I can simplify all your problems for you: Have you ever reckon the Chinese people, are people too? No, you never.

[@LeagueUnionSevens]

@@CodeMeat 100% I have. I really respect and support Siming’s journey to take pride in her family, history, nation and identity as a Chinese person. As I mentioned in my original comment, this is something close to my own heart, growing up facing all the stigma and bad press aimed at myself and my family (indirectly) as an indigenous person in New Zealand. I’ve personally gone through a very similar journey of self-acceptance (and taking pride in my history and who I am) so I find it inspiring seeing Chinese people stand up to the west in the same kind of way. I really just have a couple of qualms around a couple of specific issues, and am interested in hearing her viewpoints on them.

[@billyhsi397]

美国德州可以独立嗎？夏威夷 可以独立嗎？美国南北戰爭是為何？

[@LeagueUnionSevens]

@@billyhsi397 I support self-determination. If the people of Hawai'i or Texas want to be independent, then yes, USA should allow it.

[@edwardwong654]

This is an extremely complex matter and Siming has brilliantly brought all the main issues to the forefront. I'll leave it to each individual to come to their own conclusions, but this video has definitely enlightened my view about the Uighurs, and to a lesser extent about my own Chinese ethnicity as a mixed Cantonese-Hakka. Well done.

[@user-dc2zh2il3w]

It's not really complex. We know in the 21st century republican forms of government with democratic electoral processes reach superior results. The Chinese knew this too. Which is why they stood up asked asked for democracy. The communist party responded by slaughtering thousands. It's not that it's complex it's that anyone in China who points out the obvious is violently removed from the equation. Don't worry though. Muggings are down. Well they aren't collecting the data but, fuck you the muggings are down.

[@josephlhommedieu6085]

This is another example of the difference between the Western championing of individuality and the Chinese priority of the health of the state. In the United States there are many people who call for the fall of its system and are diametrically opposed to the values of the nation, but allowing them to have these beliefs is what the nation truly is. I believe that being able to work through those constraints is what can show the true strength of a nation. If China really wants to be influential on the world stage and multicultural as you say they must find a way to allow opposing viewpoints and cultures without it tearing their nation apart. Simply forcing their will on average people will only make other countries more wary of their influence as this could be an example of how they will treat other nations. America has done terrible things but other countries know that there will always be a counterculture to resist those actions. For example, the US is currently supporting Israel, but there is a massive pro-Palestinian movement that could cause Biden to lose the election. This would never be possible in China. East Asian countries recognize this. The Philippines have many grievances with the US but have chosen to move closer and cooperate because there is room for negotiation. Refusing to accept this and simply saying that this is Chinese culture and the rest of the world must accept it because they have a historical right to rule will only lead to conflict. The US is trying to contain China but spent decades before this trying to bring them into the modern world with the hope that they would be a good partner. Imperialism and “democratic dictatorship” are just not compatible with the 21st century world order. So China will either have to change its ways, force countries into submission through economics bribery or war, or lose their influence on the world.

[@ayambo3281]

Kudos to you, a young person brought up in the West, for having the intelligence and courage to see for yourself the truth and not fall in line with the often false and insidious narratives from the MSM. Your nuance attempt to explain the situation is indeed commendable and much more closer to the reality than any report from the West I have seen.

[@anwiycti1585]

A brat who does not know that she doesn’t know😂😂😂

[@withmalice2806]

Young ,callow woman .... You should visit Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan to understand Xinjiang problems. You would then comprehend big picture, which you lack now.

[@withmalice2806]

@@se88 Darling , I did , I do. I personally know, meet , interact with Xinjiang people regularly.

[@peterthehappywaiguoren]

Great Video Siming

[@hanshafei9858]

I think the most important thing is can we relate to each other, and is there love at all in all this. That is the crucial thing.

[@ronoliao4284]

Another enticing and informative video. This video really helped shed some additional light as to what China's Uyghur policy actually is. I think the West fails (and sometimes refuses to) understand why other countries do the things they do, hence the terms used like "genocide" and "concentration camps". China on other the hand isn't particular great at communicating their message across without coming off as thin-skinned, but they do what they feel is needed regardless of what others say. This is the 2 realities of the West and China. Great job expressing your thoughts on the issue, looking forward to your next video (from a fellow Cantonese)

[@HTeo-og1lg]

My sentiments too.

[@shineluvslambiel]

They don’t just “not understand”, they understand but purposely misinterpret and misrepresent for their own propaganda. China is not doing anything the west hasn’t done.

[@aoeu256]

The west is a direct competitor with China in providing goods to undeveloped nations

[@alanfriesen9837]

Sometimes?

[@serysyo8418]

Cultural genocide is still genocide, and China has openly admitted to suh policies after denying them.

[@GeorgeMartinus]

There's actually more than this. Most of Uyghur diasporas are exiled community who would never set their foot in their homeland anymore. Even their children will never see Xinjiang for the rest of their life due to their ancestors did something bad that Chinese govt considered as subversion motive. That's why the such the blue flag white crescent movement only loud in western countries. One of them is Rebiya Kadeer, one of founders of World Uyghur Congress (WUC). Based in Munich, this so called diaspora community was reported instigating the migrant Uyghurs and Han Chinese riot in a toy factory in Shaoguan, Guangdong, June 2009. This 'small' friction would later sparked bigger to the horrendous riot in Urumqi, July 2009. The WUC was behind this by orchestrating group of people in separate parts of Urumqi to do vandaIism act. Most of the victims were Han people, but western media twisted the f a ct told that the Uyghurs suffered the most as if it was a gen0cide toward the Uyghurs. Well, I have collected myself the RAW video of that bIoody riot since 4 years ago in my personal GDrive. But p a ste a Iink here would be considered as s p am.

[@ahnafzaheen6593]

The same as the rohingya people in miyanmar.

[@jimmy2045]

❤❤well explained thank you

[@BrRizzy1]

Loving your videos and thank you for taking the time to clarify the official line. We must not deny that locking innocent people away indefinitely, under the guise of eduction, and separating them from their little children, forcing the children to grow up in orphanages, depriving people of their culture, banning them from practicing their religion, all of these are atrocities. "There are always excuses for an atrocity but there can be no excuse for an atrocity."

[@CrabNoodleSoupp]

"One of my favorite political philosophers, Niccolo Machiavelli" -> sums up a lot of things about the perspective presented here.

[@mas97_420]

Waw great way to show your ignorance, Machiavelli was not evil or bad, he wrote about how to govern with pragmatism but never was machiavellic himself.

[@LeagueUnionSevens]

Absolutely. I find it interesting that Siming is jumping straight to Machiavelli for inspiration and in the process is overlooking very different viewpoints from Chinese political philosophy. 孟子 (Mencius) advocated for light-handed governance, believing that a ruler must first justify his position by acting benevolently to all his subjects before he can expect reciprocation from them. Of course Confucianism supports hierarchy, but 孟子 believed that while a ruler is above a commoner, he is actually subordinate to the masses - and therefore it is morally right for a population to dissent against a ruler when they believe they are being treated unfairly. I'd be interested to to hear what Siming's views would be on the Xinijang separatism movement (and the PRC's response to it) if she viewed it through a Confucian lens, not a Machiavellian one.

[@horridohobbies]

Thank you for this excellent video. It was very informative and enlightening. It gave me a much better understanding of the situation in Xinjiang. Here's my take... Throughout China's long history, the Chinese have struggled to build a nation. It was very challenging with so many tribes and ethnic groups fighting with each other. Finally, China had united enough of these warring peoples to form what we recognize today as China. It was a hard-won unity and understandably China wants to keep it altogether as much as possible. So while there are Uyghurs with separatist leanings, China must guard against disunity and the fracturing of the nation. Failing to do this will result in the disintegration of China. The measures China has taken in Xinjiang may be considered heavy-handed, but if you were leading China, how else might you deal with the problem? Are you prepared to second guess Beijing? Westerners rail against China's measures, but they have no understanding of China and her history. Their perspective is based on ignorance and arrogance. Moreover, they would like nothing better than to witness China's disintegration, because above all else, Westerners are bigots and racists. They fear losing their global hegemony. They are jealous of China's rise. They resent the Chinese. Labelling China's re-education facilities as "concentration camps" is most obviously racist and inflammatory. Labelling China's efforts to unite the Uyghur people with the rest of China as "cultural genocide" is also racist and inflammatory. And all the other nonsense about forced labour, organ harvesting, sterilization, etc. are propaganda lies meant to demonize and vilify China. We need to stop examining China through the Western lens. China is not America. China is not Europe. China has unique circumstances that require unique measures to ensure her unity, integrity and strength. _Leave China alone!_

[@shineluvslambiel]

while I agree with you I don’t know why this is framed as something that only China is doing. Deradicalization and reeducation practices to prevent religious extremism exist all over the world, including the west.

[@nanjiang1953]

I was in Yosemite last week and I was so disturbed upon learning the California genocide committed by U.S. and California government backed Mariposa battalion. Comparing the degree of genocide committed by the U.S., I think China did terrible job doing genocide just like children play. The Xinjiang genocide would have became a non-issue today just like California genocide if China did the same. Of course many countries may have moral grounds blaming what China did in Xinjiang but Anglo-Saxson nations are definitely not among them.

[@horridohobbies]

@@nanjiang1953 Exactly. Westerners interpret China's actions as human rights abuses through the Western lens, but they do not have the moral authority to do so. Westerners are hypocrites. America, Canada, Australia, Britain, France, Belgium, and many other European countries are guilty of *real* human rights abuses. Until recently, for example, my home country of Canada abused - and murdered! - thousands of indigenous children in "residential schools." This is a very dark stain on Canada's reputation. America is much worse. Australia is much worse. China has always treated its ethnic minorities with care and respect.

[@ziyu8061]

as a Chinese, I think the problem might be the fact that China isn't a democracy. So Uyghurs have no choice but to be forced to identify themselves as China, they know that they will never have a chance to get a referendum. If the UK tells Scots they won't have that chance, they will also protest. And besides, Uyghur is Uyghur, Han is Han, different in culture and ethnicity, but when facing strong foreign power, intellectuals create a narrative of "nation of Chinese" to fight against foreign countries. But the actual meaning is if the minorities don't obey, we will treat them as traitors and use power to force them to obey.

[@horridohobbies]

@@ziyu8061 China treats all of its ethnic minorities very well, in fact, better than Han Chinese! This is a fact. As I stated very clearly in my comment, China's unity was hard-won and China won't allow this unity to be upset. Any Chinese who would allow the possibility of disunity is a traitor.

[@douglasevans3314]

I really enjoy how you explain China. Now I hope to visit China, a country I have admired for many decades, and will be able to get a feeling for the country from my Chinese friend and love. Love from her has given me so much of an understanding of China. And, thank you for what you are teaching me. Even on ones 70's it's posslble to learn and appreciate a world that is full of many differences. We in the west need to open up our world view. Thank you for everything you do.

[@johnlaudenslager706]

What a moral dilemma: rules of behavior must be for everyone if that everyone is to understand each other and get along, but it will be heavy handed to those who want more freedom. The US fought its civil war over such a dilemma, and all countries have a little or lot of that kind of problem. Maybe the UN should be tasked with deciding what 'countries' or 'provinces' or areas have sovereign status? I'm talking one world government almost here. I have a suggestion, Siming, don't smile when the subject is serious. Otherwise I really appreciate your handling of subjects. You are are eloquent and bright and have good sensibilities about video production! More!

[@deacudaniel1635]

Because there are so many biases from media of both sides, it's still not clear to me what actually happens in Xinjiang.I tend to avoid discussing sensitive topics because I just love Chinese culture without having any political opinions on China but I appreciate your balanced and honest analysis on the problem.

[@mabelaero]

Well, you can always visit Xinjiang and find out for yourself if you're really concerned, unlike Guantanamo Bay, Xinjiang is actually open to tourists from all over the world.

[@user-vc5qk9tg7u]

@@mabelaero there are lots of foreign vloggers vlogging about XJ but I can't find any about Guantanom0

[@SunnySzetoSz2000]

@@user-vc5qk9tg7u Guantanamo Bay is the US thing

[@user-vc5qk9tg7u]

@@SunnySzetoSz2000 I am surprised they haven't renamed Guantanamo as "Freed0m Center", just like how U$ reverse everything else, right is wrong, white is black, man is woman etc etc etc.

[@hyc1266]

I spent the last 3 years during the pandemic researching about China and US. My conclusion is China is peaceful and hardly give out any biased information while US/UK lies everything about China and oppressing any country which disagrees with it. China has regained its strength and is standing up straight, fighting against the bully by US/UK/west. Learn the hundred years of humiliation of China. China is a multi-ethnic country since its birth more than 5000 years. Racism is not Chinese culture but that of US/UK/west. Minorities in modern China have more benefits than the majority Hans and everyone get to keep their dialects/languages, religions and cultures. If you really love Chinese culture, then you should know that China is a peaceful country but it won't allow any more bully by US/west.

[@benjaminabdullah3289]

Let’s be pragmatic, Xinjiang and Tibet are so much more prosperous and better under the leadership of Communist Party of China, just compare with Nepal or the northern state of India or Afghanistan or Pakistan. Women’s rights, education, infrastructure, etc.. I observe some Uyghur activist in the US and Australia, I mean they are not really look like a "good" muslim, the women are not using hijab, the men shave their beard, not to mention they have a good understanding of Islam when it comes to Tauhid, Aqidah, hudud law, etc..

[@nonrepublicrat]

To say they are prosperous is a lie. You are brainwashed. Whether or not they are good Muslims has nothing to do with their right to be free. Your comment is absolute BS!

[@shuenn]

@@nonrepublicrat It seems to me that you're the one who's brainwashed, less western media would be better for you.

[@omerenginbatir4911]

@benjaminabdullah3289 Are you on hashish bro ?

[@linusmayden8465]

​@@nonrepublicrat They can be free in the countless of Muslim majority countries with Sharia law, China is secular.

[@siyacer]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@luigisacco2187]

SIming, if everyone had the personality than you, the world would be in a better place. Analytical, understanding, and logically consistent w/ quantitative reasoning.

[@jaimeso8000]

I like your explanation of the situation in Xinjiang. Compare to what is happening in Gaza. The situation of Ugher people in xinjiang is a million times better than Palestinian people living in Gaza. Western media and politician who are acting in a very double standard with regards to Israel and China.

[@SaschaTayefeh]

Thank you for your inside view. There's a saying in Germany: "The most dangerous view is that of those who haven't viewed the world." So thank you so much for your insights.

[@storage4539]

1) The Xinjiang region was either conquered by different Chinese or non-Chinese empires, or occupied by a bunch of independent city states during its history. The Chinese have only established episodic control from time to time. 2) "Zhong hua min zu" (the umbrella term for the Chinese nation composed of various ethnicity) is a social construct created more than 100 years ago. All these ethnic groups were unified under the Qing and other previous Chinese empires before. 3) A nation state is a modern concept. The question is for a region and their occupants who were ruled by different empires, do they have a say on what they want? Do we just transfer their colonial citizenship to the nation state citizenship? 4) China was an empire. Similar to her western counterparts, the Chinese conquered and occupied other peoples' lands, and other people conquered and occupied her land. This was how the east and west civilizations developed. We need to understand that it was the way to do business back in the day. The danger is to use modern standards to gain victim righteousness. It was the century of humiliation for the Chinese, and in the same vein, it was the millennium of humiliation for the Vietnamese becoz of Chinese occupation.

[@cheungchingtong]

That said, Zhong Guo, or the term of the Middle Kingdom was used many many centuries ago, I think since the Han Dynasty, firstly brought by the Han Wu Emperor, the difference is ancient Chinese phrased it as dynasty, instead of nation.

[@TARIM-TUMAN]

..именно время- от- времени устанавливали(3-4)раза устанавливали частичный контроль над Уйгурией...и это сейчас закат желтой безбожной империи...агония кпк продолжается☝️😡

[@clipwat1511]

Very good! Thank you!

[@lhc6265]

I like the fact that this video has quite a bit of dislike. This means you are really touching on the precipice of contentiousness, which most often do not go there all for the name of appeasing the viewers. Good job.

[@Xray888]

If you look back, since 1949 government has been trying various policy over this region and make Uyghurs like han. Sometimes with softer way, sometimes in harder way. As host mentioned, it has to be “unified” identity and culture in the eye of government. But Uyghur has very strong connection to their root and culture, they are proud of their past. On top of that, Han and Uyghur culture are totally different in many ways. In short, all these agenda government has been pushing so hard recent years will be wasted. This kind of strict policy would only create more hate and isolation. It’s impossible to fully control the mind of people nowadays. For sure we are going to witness another wave of resistance in near future.

[@86laowhy80]

Although you provided some very detailed information, I feel more confused after watching your video. I respect anyone’s opinion 100 times more from anyone who has actually been to the area over those who haven’t. So thank you for that. Full disclosure, I live in Shenzhen.

[@luceafarul579]

Yeah it definitely could’ve done better in terms of organization.

[@lennylhchen]

Apparently you explained very well which the state media can't do and plus they don't reach out to as many people.

[@icecream270]

Thanks a lot for your informative video.

[@jcben]

Your videos are always a window on a different point of view. Thank you.

[@directxxxx71]

​​​@anglohan5428OK US military Industrial Complex bot😂😂

[@yujiadong8507]

我姐姐在新疆工作，她的上司就亲手把她丈夫送进再教育营了，因为在伊斯兰文化里女性地位非常低，她丈夫不上班还经常打她还要她辞职回家多生孩子，后来被逼急了找自己的朋友和同事把她丈夫送进去了。我姐姐说再教育营里好多人都是被自己家人送进去的，因为他们被恐怖分子洗脑让他们家里的钱都偷出去

[@YoutubeModeratorsSuckMyBalls]

Wow this video is great example of how long and intricate way it is possible to say "Xinjang is and was China, and so there is nothing wrong on eradicating some uyghurs"😂😂😂

[@quoderatdemonstrandum7215]

There is no murder, forcible transfer of people like in Gaza at the moment and the US does not even want to classify that as a genocide. Why the US government is so quick and keen on calling this a genocide?

[@ClaySuddath]

Thank you so much for offering non-Chinese English speakers your special in-depth vision of China. If ever our different cultures are to survive on an increasingly smaller planet, we must understand each other, for naturally, without understanding, there will be no cooperation. It is my sincere hope that such cooperation could lead to peace and prosperity for everyone in multi-polar world. I am shocked daily by the arrogance of the Western press freely spewing Asian hate in a quagmire of clichés. Laws against provoking hate are only enforced in a very discretionary manner closely in line with the official narrative. The ignorant rage continues as temperatures rise. US citizens for the most part have no knowledge of China's history. Comments by even high-ranking officials display a dearth of knowledge that is inexcusable for officials of such high rank. Worse yet, they don't even want to know anything more about China than the bargains they can pick up at Wal-Mart. They pay for them with funds provided by public welfare assistance and complain that China produces everything before going back home to wallow in an opiate-induced haze promoted by their captains of industry. All of this has been expressly created by an elite of cynical leaders who continue to fan the flames of media hatred that leads the drunken chauvinist to bite the hand that feeds him. Fortunately, time is running out for that game. We'll see what Uncle Sam does with the thousands of homeless when bankruptcy comes knocking at the Federal Reserve's door. Those in the US concerned about the Uyghurs would best review their own private prison system before criticising China. Operated for profit, it reinforces inequality and injustice by design. hir.harvard.edu/us-uk-prison-privatization/ time.com/5405158/the-true-history-of-americas-private-prison-industry/ onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/spol.12766 Keep up the good work!

[@rhetoric5173]

It’s a worthless perspective from a savage tyrant worshiping barbarians.

[@ClaySuddath]

@@rhetoric5173 Rhetoric - Definition: "Language that is elaborate, pretentious, insincere, or intellectually vacuous: "

[@rhetoric5173]

Indeed, barbarian@@ClaySuddath

[@ClaySuddath]

@@rhetoric5173You poor dear...

[@rhetoric5173]

Short life, eternal pit of hellfire. See if emperor saves then@@ClaySuddath

[@thomasantn]

Similar in US, even you are in a very large Latino community, the language used in school to teach is still predominantly English not Spanish.

[@doujinflip]

Difference is there's no pressure to prevent speaking Uyghur at home. The Philippines and much of Africa is similar in that schools universally teach in English but leave home tongue untouched, creating a population that ends up largely bilingual and famously expressive.

[@thomasantn]

@@doujinflip You obviously have never traveled to XingJiang. Uyghur language is everywhere, at shop front and on street. Uyghurs typically speak Uyghur language to other Uyghurs like how Cantoneses speak to each other but speak Mandarin to Chineses from other ethnics background.

[@douglashurd4356]

Among all of the complicated questions surrounding this issue, I have tried to determine relative incarceration rates comparing China and the US. My current estimate is that the US currently has more people incarcerated than does China, even including any Uyghurs. Do you think that's correct?

[@lolturtle13]

No. The US prison population is high as a percentage of the population, but the population itself is just around 2 million. The official Chinese reports give a prison population a bit below 2 million. And if you take the estimates of 1 million Uighurs detained, then the numbers surpass. But then again, that's raw numbers. As a percentage, it's still low. But as a percentage of the Uighur population, if that estimate is close to true, it is massive.

[@alanfriesen9837]

@@lolturtle13 There's also the question of when. China says that the program is over and that the re-education camps have been closed. You may not believe that, but it's more likely true than there were at one point a million Uighurs detained. So the number of Uighurs currently detained is between zero and a million, and probably a lot closer to zero.

[@lerneanlion]

This might sound weird but the best comparison to what China is facing regarding the crisis in Xinjiang is what lead to the American Civil War and its aftermath. As we all know, the North wanted to abolish slavery, the South wanted to keep slavery, Britain and France abolished slavery in their own countries but relied on cottons produced by workforce made up of slaves in the South. Because of this tension between the North and the South with slavery as a major factor, a war eventually erupted when South Carolina declared secession from the U.S. And during this war, Britain and France did their best to maintain good relations with both sides of the conflict with the elites of both countries are sort of being pro-South while the civilians are pro-North. Heck, Britain even deployed warships from the Royal Navy in putting up a blockade around Africa to put an end to the slave trade. But what important here is the aftermath. Just because the South lost the war, it did not mean it will go down so easily. Some riots broke out in the Southern States in response against the military occupation, resulting the deaths of many African Americans and European Americans from the Northern States by lynching. Also, some of the White Southerners even accused the Union for having too much foreign influences in their domains due to migration from Europe, making them no longer Americans in the eyes of these extremists. Some generations later, they even created this myth about the South wanted to protect its rights about whether to abolish slavery on its own like the central government from the North demanded or not. The point here is that before and after the American Civil War ended, getting rid of the other side's narrative or finding a way to compromise with such narrative is still going to be hard and there will always be those from the outside looking in that will claim that this side is right or that side is right either our of morality, political agendas or economic interests.

[@adamhosek1620]

It is always a fascinating experience to listen to well-put arguments that question my own views, beliefs, bias and prejudice! Thank you for that. The most fascinating part is the realisation that for some people (cultures) the concept of human rights is just not that important as it is for me. I have of course rationally known it for a while, but experiencing it through such an intelligent monologue is something else.

[@dsartain3404]

Nice one Siming’ you navigated a difficult subject very well.

[@DomPedroSilva]

New video YES!

[@x7j4]

Many brilliant people are inarticulate and clumsy, but you are brilliant and articulate, with no hint of a clumsy delivery. To create a video like this is a feat, and I truly appreciate your long hours of research, complication, writing, and video creation. I learn important information from each of your videos. Thank you!!

[@pioamillos9001]

easy to say that the stabbing incident is not terrorism but what if your family becomes the victim? can you still call it liberation.

[@veibae2501]

Not just stabbings but suicide attacks and police murders

[@andrewferrier3351]

But the state kills their family then they are liberators

[@leafsnation82]

It's also easy to say that this is not an abuse of human rights but if your sister and daughter got raped and tortured at these facilities, would you still call it re-education? So this reasoning goes both ways. History has shown that force is not the best way to subjugate a group of people. Especially, in this modern era where individuals have a greater voice (through social media) as well as access to more information, and a better idea of what they feel they are entitled to. If China can show the Uyghurs that life is better as part of China, they will want to be a part of China. This will garner respect from around the world and China will strengthen it's global position. Unfortunately, the current method is having the opposite effect.

[@qs332]

@@andrewferrier3351 never heard of/seen this.

[@qs332]

@@leafsnation82 any proof？

[@knowledge3175]

Hi, Thank you. Finally get to know what western media are good at.

[@cesarmaurera1]

What you just described sounds like a collective punishment, which is universaly condemned. Also it doesn't address the issue of forced labour...

[@hesi4114]

we all know if our mothers and fathers were held in those camps forced to "learn how to sew clothes" we'd be singing a different tune, wouldn't we?

[@marcob4630]

you're right indeed!

[@AlanXuHK]

forced to "learn how to sew clothes" is the narratives by the western media driven by their political agenda. in my view, providing job opportunities so that people would not be swayed by religious extreme to become jihadists is a far better way to advance human rights

[@zhan1651]

你就是长者口中的young simple and naive。

[@user-mg4yw9yc7l]

Siming I have watched the video, and it deserves more thought. I will return later to watch it again, and to catch up to the comment section (it should be pretty lively). I realize you have an editorial ability and responsibility, please use it sparingly. m

[@hrizony7847]

This is a great discussion. It’s very hard to find balance in the narrative. Honestly I still feel the “reeducation camp” is too vague. It just needs to be more open for ppl in China or Row to get to understand it.

[@Cycad1]

If you’re ending with a quote from Machiavelli, you might need reevaluate what you’re really saying. The world isn’t what it once was. Nowadays cruelty reeks of weakness and insecurity, because it’s the measure that makes sense when you think nothing else will work.

[@andred7684]

Before watching a video-documentary on t3rror1st attacks in Xinjiang I really used to hold the very same Western view of this situation, but seeing how horrid the outcome of the attacks and the pesky religious extremism behind it, made me realised there's no such thing as black and white but shades of grey.

[@hoardroarklaughed]

Congrats! You’re a sucker for propaganda lol

[@allenmadison8775]

I love your videos. I'm not sure what to think about the position china has taken as far as Xinjiang.

[@roro4787]

you are awesome Simeng

[@zetristan4525]

Seeming like you got the spelling wrong😅

[@nusss3057]

xinjiang has been part of china for many years. so why now ? the xinjiang human rights and ...etc..USA would like to tear china apart.Tibet and Xinjiang makes up of about 40% of china territory! Tibet and xinjiang are aggressively supported by USA . embracing these two territories and hoping that they can secession is the objectives ... Fortunately, chinese leaders are calm and strategic ;they will not fall into such western trap easily.....chinese are not stupid and ignorant! Just look at the conflict of ukraine and russia, USA is enjoying the weakening of russia without firing a shot ! slavic killing each other , what a sham!

[@aglis_]

It is a moral quagmire of a situation, but not one that is discussed enough in this manner because the world (mostly Western institutions) prefers to remain ignorant and view things in black and white... which would usually be the extent of it except its virtually proven by its track record and history that Western intelligence agencies and their media arms do tend to fan the flames of conflict and financially support these types of things namely color revolutions even if it came to the great detriment and harm of innocent people who live there including the demographic being used as their pawns such as the Uyghur. China managed to clamp down it all by addressing the root of the situation which was the overall disenfranchisement of the Uyghur people stemming from two major things: poverty and lack of education. These two things are seen throughout the Middle East which is why its a hotbed for Islamic extremism that tend to lead up to exploitive foreign intervention of the country's resources in exchange for security, leading to more common people suffering and disenfranchised which then leads to a repeat of the cycle.

[@liyuanqian9143]

Many American media prefer to keep silent on their own left wing radicals rioting and damaging public property than for their government to take action protecting the lives and property of innocent civilians. Think about that and then maybe it's not surprising that they expect other governments to let their countries fall into ruins than do the necessary

[@skydragon23101979]

Agreed, it’s a moral quagmire, agreed with you it’s the disenfranchisement of the Uyghur people stemming from the poverty and lack of education, this are 2 of the few root causes but are these the only 2? The Uyghur people wanting their own country and own way of life that is not exactly the same as the China or the ability to have their own laws and governance that is different than the China isn’t that one of the root causes?

[@ahmedkas4298]

wow , that's very insightful video about this issue .