Wang Lequan , the 'emperor' of Xinjiang , holds three posts - membership of the Politburo, party chief of Xinjiang and senior political commissar of a 55-year-old organisation of paramilitary settlers.
With its 2.6 million members, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps is the single most important instrument of state control in Xinjiang. In Putonghua, it is known as bingtuan (literally 'army group'), which more accurately describes the 'BT' than the bland English name.
It was founded in 1954 by Mao Zedong , who ordered the soldiers who had conquered the region for the new Chinese government to remain and farm the land. He gave it the mission to develop the region's backward economy and prevent independence, and appointed as commander Wang Zhen . Wang was a national political and military leader for the next 40 years.
The BT began with 175,000 soldiers. Today, its 2.6 million members make up one-seventh of Xinjiang's population. They produce 20 per cent of its grain, 40 per cent of its cotton, and 33 per cent of its sugar, along with cotton yarn and cloth. They breed enormous herds of cattle, sheep, horses and camels, and mine coal, copper and other minerals. They operate more than 1,200 companies, of which a dozen are listed on the stock market.
They are one of the world's biggest producers of tomato paste, with annual sales of more than 4 billion yuan (HK$4.54 billion), mostly for export, and operate 60 travel agencies.
The BT's planned gross domestic product next year is 65 billion yuan, with imports and exports of US$7.1 billion and an average individual income of 7,500 yuan.