China’s policy to the minorities is first class.

[littlefisherman]

The Uighurs complain that Beijing represses their religious practices, and discriminates against them. And the tragedy of Ethnic unrest broke out on July 5, there were more than 180 people, most of them Han Chinese, died in the violence, but Uighurs say many more Uighurs died.China blames Rebiya Kadeer for instigating the ethnic riots in Xinjiang, but she denies having any role in the unrest and says she opposes violence. Beijing accuses Kadeer’s World Uighur Congress of being a front for extremists pushing for a separate East Turkistan homeland in western China.
Why aren’t the Uighurs satisfied with their living nowadays? In fact, China goverenment has done a lot to the minorities. The minority groups get special benefits - such as preferential university places and the right to have more than one child. It is true that the minority groups really get special benefits, the student can get 6 scores reward when they attend the College Entrance Examinaiton, which can assure them to receive better education and can find good job later. They have more priorities in the daily life—they are having better life than ever, they should be satisfied with the policy.

 

[AJTheMan]

From my knowledge, the Chinese Government has a “Han First” type policy in which it would like to see most of the ethnic minorities conform to the Han Chinese way of life and beliefs. The Uighur, being more like the Turks of Central Asia, are devout Muslims who live in a more traditional way than the Han. So the government encourages Han migration into Uighur areas en masse so that the Han can start to modernize the area and get rid of the local customs and taboos.

This is what I have been told, at least. I’m a westerner so if it’s wrong, don’t hit me.

 

[Hesychios]

China is trying to be fair with it’s minorities, without conceding it’s right to rule them.

I think that this goes back to the early days of the civil war, when the communists were very liberal and idealistic. They made promises to the leaders of these minority groups and for the most part have tried to keep them.

Of course, during the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution the minorities suffered greatly.

Today, the officially recognized minorities are exempted from the more draconian laws, such as the “one child” policy. It is the Han ethnicity that is so numerous, and that is where the law is applied.

Now if we were to discuss religious policies, that would be a whole different kettle of fish.

China is officially atheistic. It tolerates religion, but will not allow foreigners to minister to Chinese people (there are strong historical precedents for this position). Naturally this means that any religion that can develop it’s leadership locally, like the Muslims, the Buddhists and any congregation based group (like certain Protestant groups) will do OK. Hierarchical churches that report to foreign authorities or need foreign bishops and priests will not do well.

Bibles sell well in China, many people here have read it. Unfortunately it is almost always a Protestant version.