On Christmas day, Xinhua news anounced that the party chief of Xinjinag has let go of all his party obilgations in Xinjiang and is now waiting for new tasks. This created a little commotion inside and outside China.
If you know anything about Xinjiang, you will know in the past 4 years, it has become a draconian police state. Really really bad. So bad that the US has made new laws to ban any US company to source products from forced labour from Xinjiang. With the Beijing winter Olympics coming in weeks, international pressure on boycotting it for Xinjiang is mounting.
Why does the government let Chen go at this moment? Lots of people are wondering.
The executive director of Human Rights Watch is quick to attribute it as a sign that Beijing is caving in to foreign pressure.
But many are not convinced. Where he is going next will be the key.
Some people are quick to point out that, two months ago, Chen just got re-elected for a second term. Others also comment that he is close to retirement age. There is a high chance that he will be given an honored retirement, a nominal high level position with little real power.
Inside China, people are more worried. One dared to make the following post on Weibo and got some swift responses.
(rough translation) I hope that Secretary Chen can spread his experience of ruling Xinjiang to all of China so that all Chinese can enjoy the good lives of Xinjiang people.
(responses)
LOL, you think other places of China are as barbarious and need such kind of ruling? Secretary Chen is very smart, he knows how to treat people accordingly. Understand?
There are no terrorists in my place. Please don't spread.
What a dick are you pretending to be!
Are you crazy?
I hope you can spread your hatred of our country with sarcasm to your whole family, so that your whole family enjoy the good lives of wishing to die, and having to watch our country enjoying prosperity.
Two days after Secretary Chen left his job, some people already reported great progress.
(rough translation)
#Top News from Urumchi (capital city of Xinjiang)#, great news....
Today when I drive my passengers to the gas station to fill up the tank, out of habit I asked my passengers to get off my car. But the security told me no need. Passengers can stay in the car. That means in the summer they don't have to stay in the baking sun and in the winter they don't have to be frozen. Let's click praise for the change in Urumchi!
The four gigantic characters at the end in white with blue background says: IMPORTANT NOTICE.