Why the Communist Party has created a new bureau for Xinjiang
Setting up office under United Front Work department signals this shift in decision making power away from government to the Communist Party
The ruling Communist Party of China has created a new bureau to improve intelligence and policy coordination in Xinjiang, the vast western region that has been placed under what many see as increasing police surveillance and intrusive social control.
The new bureau for Xinjiang, an area larger than France, Spain and Germany combined in northwest China, has been placed under the Central United Front Work Department, a party organ whose main duty is to court elites outside the party to ensure of their political loyalty.
A key function of the bureau is to provide Xinjiang-related advice and policy proposals to China’s top leaders.
The creation of a new office for Xinjiang reflects Beijing’s growing concerns about stability in the region, which borders eight countries from Russia all the way round to India. The office also elevates Xinjiang-related issues on the work agenda of the ruling party to the same rank as non-Communist political parties, ethnic and religious issues, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan affairs, and Tibet affairs.
The southern part of Xinjiang is predominantly populated by the Turkic-speaking Muslim Uygurs.