By Tahir Imin Uyghurian
The Chinese government recently announced the opening of its first “Immigration Affairs Service Center” in Urumqi, presenting it as a milestone in “Xinjiang’”s international engagement. According to the People’s Daily, this center will provide services for foreign experts, including entry-exit procedures, policy consultation, and cultural exchange programs.
However, this development raises serious concerns among Uyghur rights advocates and observers. The establishment of such a center appears to be part of a broader strategy to control international narratives about the situation in East Turkistan (referred to as “Xinjiang” by Chinese authorities).
Controlled Access and Narrative
The center’s establishment comes at a time when independent access to the region remains severely restricted. “This facility appears designed to manage and control foreign visitors’ experiences rather than facilitate genuine exchange,” notes our editorial board. “While Chinese state media promotes this as an opening up of the region, the reality is that local Uyghurs continue to face severe restrictions on their movement and communication with the outside world.”
Selective Engagement
The center’s focus on “foreign experts” is particularly telling. These carefully selected visitors often include pro-Beijing academics, business representatives, and others who may lack direct access to or understanding of the Uyghur community’s actual situation. The People’s Daily reports that the center will provide “one-stop services” for various procedures, but notably absent is any mention of facilitating independent research or unrestricted access to local communities.
Missing Voices
What’s glaringly absent from the Chinese state media coverage is any mention of Uyghur participation in these “cultural exchanges.” This omission is particularly significant given that:
- Uyghurs continue to face severe restrictions on international travel
- Local residents are often unable to freely communicate with foreigners
- Independent researchers and journalists remain largely blocked from conducting unrestricted investigations in the region
The Broader Context
This development must be viewed within the larger context of ongoing human rights concerns in the region. While the Chinese government promotes this center as evidence of openness, it simultaneously maintains tight controls over information flow and population movement.
The timing of this announcement aligns with Beijing’s efforts to normalize its presence and policies in the region, following years of international criticism over its treatment of Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples. This center’s establishment is merely the latest component in China’s sophisticated global propaganda campaign, which includes several concerning elements:
- “Genocide Tourism”: Orchestrated tours for foreign visitors showing carefully curated locations and staged interactions, while restricting access to sensitive areas and preventing unmonitored conversations with local residents
- State Media Manipulation: Coordinated efforts across Chinese state media outlets to push narratives that deny human rights violations and present a sanitized version of life in the region
- Digital Disinformation: Large-scale online campaigns using social media platforms, paid influencers, and state-affiliated accounts to spread misleading information about conditions in East Turkistan