Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region

[Randy W]

From the Guangzhou American Citizen Services

 

Security Message for American Citizens

Although U.S. Consulate Guangzhou does not have any information regarding specific threats, in light of recent events and ongoing tensions, the U.S. Mission has instructed its staff to defer all personal travel to the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region until further notice.

U.S. Consulate Guangzhou reminds U.S. citizens that while violent crime is not common in China, violent incidents may occur without warning. The vast majority of these incidents are related to disputes over land seizures, social issues, employment disputes, environmental problems, or ethnic tensions. In 2014, violent attacks, including acts of terrorism, have resulted in several dozen injuries and deaths in public spaces throughout China, including train stations and markets. Although neither U.S. citizens specifically nor foreigners generally were targeted in these attacks, such incidents pose a random threat to foreigners. U.S. Consulate Guangzhou recommends that U.S. citizens pay attention to their surroundings when traveling in China and report any concerns to the local police.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department?s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website at http://travel.state.gov/, where the current Worldwide Caution, Country Specific Information, Public Announcements, and Travel Warnings can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States or Canada, or for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (EST), Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

U.S. Consulate Guangzhou?s American Citizen Services Unit can be reached at 86-3814-5775. After hours, a duty officer can be reached by calling 86-10-8531-4000. The addresses and telephone contact information for U.S. Consulate Guangzhou, the U.S. Embassy and other consulates in China are at the bottom of this announcement.

U.S. citizens residing or traveling in China are reminded to register with the U.S. Embassy or closest U.S. Consulate by entering your travel itinerary and contact information at https://step.state.gov/step/. In case of difficulties registering online, please contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

The U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou
[links to guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/]43 Hua Jiu Road, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District,
Guangzhou 510623
Telephone: (86)(20) 3814-5775
Emergency after-hours telephone: (86)(010) 8531-4000
This consular district includes the provinces/autonomous region of Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, and Fujian.

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China [links to beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/]
No. 55 An Jia Lou Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600
Telephone: (86) (10) 8531-4000
Emergency after-hours telephone: (86) (10) 8531-4000
The Embassy consular district includes the municipalities of Beijing and Tianjin and the provinces/autonomous regions of Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Inner Mongolia, Jiangxi, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, and Xinjiang.

The U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu [links to chengdu.usembassy-china.org.cn/]
Number 4, Lingshiguan Road, Section 4, Renmin Nanlu,
Chengdu 610041.
Telephone: (86)(28) 8558-3992
Emergency after-hours telephone: (86) (10) 8531-4000
This consular district includes the provinces/autonomous region of Guizhou, Sichuan, Xizang (Tibet) and Yunnan, as well as the special municipality of Chongqing.

The U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai [links to shanghai.usembassy-china.org.cn/]
Westgate Mall, 8th Floor, 1038 Nanjing Xi Lu,
Shanghai 200031
Telephone: (86)(21) 3217-4650
Emergency after-hours telephone: (86) (21) 3217-4650
This consular district includes Shanghai municipality and the provinces of Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang.

The U.S. Consulate General in Shenyang [links to shenyang.usembassy-china.org.cn/]
No. 52, 14th Wei Road, Heping District,
Shenyang 110003
Telephone: (86)(24) 2322-1198
Emergency after-hours telephone: (86) (10) 8531-4000
This consular district includes the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning.

The U.S. Consulate General in Wuhan [links to wuhan.usembassy-china.org.cn/index.html]
New World International Trade Tower I
No. 568, Jianshe Avenue
Hankou, Wuhan 430022
Telephone: (86) (027) 8555-7791
Emergency after-hours telephone: (86) (10) 8531-4000
[Please note that consular services are provided only during quarterly outreaches in Wuhan. Contact the Embassy in Beijing for other consular and emergency services.]

 

 

[Randy W]

from Xinhua

 

China Voice: People united against antihuman terrorists

 

Explosions that rocked an open air market in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on Thursday morning have left 31 dead and more than 90 injured.

 

Two vehicles broke through roadside fences and plowed into people while explosive devices were also set off.

 

As senior citizens and children are among the frequent visitors to such markets, it is believed that scores of the victims may be members of these vulnerable groups. As such, this is a bare display of the terrorists' indiscriminate malice against society and all human beings.

 

. . .

 

Following the bloody attack, the international community has also voiced strong condemnation, highlighting that terrorism in any form can not be condoned.

 

It is certain that terrorist forces will face isolation from all people who love peace and cherish life in the world, and that terrorism is doomed to failure.

 

[Randy W]

Female SWAT team in Xinjiang

 

 

http://p4.img.cctvpic.com/nettv/english/special/chinesepeoplelife/20140523/images/100264_1400808562410.jpg

[Randy W]

I'm not sure how much of a grain of salt to take this with, but I think it's interesting reading regardless of your point of view - from the Global Times

 

Behind the veil Xinjiang drifts toward Talibanization as dances suppressed, conservative dress imposed

 

As combating terrorism has become the top priority of the Xinjiang government, authorities are also taking measures to rein in fundamentalism, which many believe prompts women to cover their skins and provides the theoretical basis for terrorism.

One potential solution to this war of ideology, as the local government is coming to realize, could be the revival of Uyghur culture and Uyghur traditions.

 

Clothing not optional

In a recently announced policy, the government said it is pushing for the "standardization of the traditional costumes of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang." The move aims to define Uyghur traditional costumes and differentiate them from conservative clothing of foreign Islam sects, such as the Burqa, a gown that covers the body of a woman from head to toe.

The move will help the authorities issue rules on conservative attire, which they say poses a risk to Uyghur traditions. The standardization will also highlight features of Uyghur costumes and help local industries produce more clothes with ethnic characteristics.

"Some argue that people should have the freedom to choose their own clothes. But in Xinjiang, your costume is more than a costume. Conservative clothing is often chosen not by personal preference but outside pressure," said Turgunjan Tursun, a scholar at the Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences.

For many years, Uyghur culture has been known for vibrant ethnic dances. Girls in red or pink Atlas silk dresses would tilt their heads, thrust their chests and push out their waists with smiles on their faces. When they dance, people are often mesmerized by how fast they are able to spin, to the point that their dresses fly like blossoming flowers.

But that impression is being replaced with other imagery.

Ever since the 1980s, increasing numbers of Uyghur women, especially those in southern Xinjiang, have begun to wear veils. Their attire changed from traditional Atlas silk dresses with vivid colors to black gowns and the black "Niqab," a veil worn by Muslim females that covers their face and chest.