Chinese media shine light on little-known ‘counterterrorism leading group’ in Xinjiang

Chinese media made public a formerly little known anti-terrorism body under the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) on Sunday, attracting attention to the unique state-run, semi-military organisation and its role in carrying out counterterrorism and other state policies in the far western region.

Officials from the “anti-terrorism leading group” of the XPCC attended a video conference with the national leading group on counterterrorism and the Public Security Ministry on Sunday, Xinhua reported.

The XPCC’s anti-terrorism leading group had seldom been reported in the media. But experts said the group had long existed as part of the country’s increasing efforts to fight terrorism.

Hundreds of people have died in unrest in Xinjiang  – home to roughly 10 million Turkic-speaking Uygur Muslims – and other parts of China over the past three years.

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Beijing blames the violence on Islamist militants, led by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which it says is tied to al Qaeda.