Imperial aggression: 'Important to recognise what China is doing in Xinjiang'

Centre for Independent Studies Executive Director Tom Switzer says "it is important to recognise what China is doing" with its oppression of the Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province given it represents a new part of Beijing's imperial policy.

"Xinjiang only became part of China in the mid-18th century and China won't liberalise because its authoritarian leadership fears ethnic rebellion," he said.

"China has this political system closed and at the same time is pushing into Central Asia through diplomacy, economic interventions, it's building vast infrastructure projects in the region to ally with the Turkic Muslims of the former Soviet Union and as a result, they're denying Chinese-Muslims a friendly near-base for future rebellions.

"This is all designed for China to exercise its imperial aggression and that's why the responsible leaders at the G7 will put out a statement on China's treatment of its mostly Muslim minority in Xinjiang."

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