A STRING of deadly attacks by suspected Uighur separatists in big cities has brought the issue of Xinjiang’s Muslim Uighur minority from its regional backseat to the fore in China, experts say.

The attacks drew much attention both in China and abroad, which is the intention of the assailants who want the western region of Xinjiang carved out as a separate state, Singapore-based international terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna said.
Increasing attention means Beijing’s policies in Xinjiang also face growing scrutiny. Beijing also faces pressure to get things right to prevent more violence from spilling outside the restive region.

“But China has acted quickly and decisively and shown that it is ready to fight,” Professor Gunaratna told The Straits Times.