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In a Chinese region where tensions are high and security is already tight, police forces are increasing on the streets of Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang. Local authorities are preparing ahead of the China-Eurasia Expo, that will start on September 1st.
The China-Eurasia Expo will open in Urumqi, the capital of China's northwestern Xinjiang Autonomous Region on September 1st. Authorities are on high alert, guarding against any chance of disruption in a region that is already under surveillance.
Locals say police are now carrying out security checks across the city.
[Hotel Worker]:
"During the period of the China-Eurasia Expo, they have increased security throughout the whole city of Urumqi. All aspects of security work have increased, including searching the bags and checking IDs of those who go into large hotels. There are bag checks at all public places, including checking the trunks of cars."
The start date for the new school semester has also been moved later to accommodate for the opening of the expo.
[Urumqi Resident]:
"School semester starts on September 2nd, the date was pushed back. In previous years it was at the end of August, like August 27th or 28th."
Xinjiang is a sensitive region in China. The local Muslim residents are finding their culture increasingly overtaken by that of Han Chinese, who are now almost equal in number to them.
In 2009 ethnic tensions led to serious riots in the region. Since the September 11th terrorist attacks in the United States, the Chinese regime has increasing used the excuse of fighting terrorism to crack down on Muslim and pro-independence groups. A Xinjiang independence organization based in the U.S., The World Uyghur Congress refutes those claims.
