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Xinjiang’s economy and the impact of US sanctions

This series looks at China’s Xinjiang province and how it is coping economically under a series of US sanctions over alleged human rights violations and the widespread use of forced labour.

Updated: 11 Oct, 2021
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[1]

Beijing pours billions into Xinjiang. Is it sustainable?

The US earlier this year banned cotton and tomato products from Xinjiang over alleged human rights violations, but the province remains a major agricultural base.

01 Oct, 2021
Xinjiang remains a major agricultural base and primary industries that harvest or extract raw materials still accounted for 14.4 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020. Illustration: Henry Wong
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[2]

What is China’s ‘pairing assistance’ that sends money, talent to Xinjiang?

Beijing insists its long-running initiative has improved Xinjiang’s infrastructure and enhanced people’s lives, but the US says that billions of yuan have been funnelled into factories where alleged labour abuses take place.

05 Oct, 2021
Chinese state media plays up Xinjiang’s natural beauty, including its flower-covered prairies, making the region a draw for domestic tourists. Photo: Xinhua
[3]

Xinjiang’s exports are under pressure – but not because of US sanctions

Trucks crossing the border of China’s far west Xinjiang have plummeted over the past 18 months, mirroring a broader decline of exports in regional gross domestic product.

06 Oct, 2021
The US has announced sweeping bans on all imports of cotton and tomatoes from Xinjiang, the region’s two major export cash crops. Photo: Xinhua
[4]

Xinjiang’s debt-heavy state firms pose hidden risk to local government

Debt issued by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a quasi-military entity in Washington’s cross hairs, has surged in recent years to fund social and security spending.

08 Oct, 2021
Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps controls Xinjiang’s cotton output, which accounts for 20 per cent of global supply. Photo: Reuters