China signals no let-up in Xinjiang crackdown

A Chinese Communist Party official signalled Monday that there would likely be no let-up in its crackdown in the Xinjiang region, but said the government's focus is shifting more to addressing the roots of extremism.

"We cannot say that everything will be all right, because it's not the case at all. We are still facing some threats," Xu Guixiang, the deputy director-general of the Xinjiang Communist Party publicity department, said in an interview with The Associated Press.

He was speaking after a news conference in Beijing to discuss the sitation in Xinjiang.

China's policies in the remote Xinjiang region, home to the Uighurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic groups, have become a major point of division with the U.S. and other Western nations over alleged human rights violations.

Analysts say China has detained more than a million people, forcing many to give up elements of their faith and traditions. Chinese officials tout the success of their effort to deradicalize the population and provide job training, saying the region hasn't had a terrorist attack in four years.

Xu did not directly answer whether or not security measures would be relaxed, but said that "four years free of terrorism does not mean there is no threat or danger at all."

He said the party is exploring ways to achieve sustained stability in multi-ethnic, border areas such as Xinjiang, a far west region about 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) from Beijing.

"We need to think more about the deep-seated issues, including the social foundation and the soil that give rise to extremism and terrorism," he said.

The U.S. customs agency has blocked imports of clothing and other goods from Xinjiang this year over the forced labor issue, and U.K. politicians are demanding that British companies ensure their supply chains are free of forced labor.

The U.S. restrictions have driven some of the region's firms to seek other markets, Xu said, both at home and abroad.

"It is not that the Xinjiang companies can't survive without the U.S. market. This is definitely not the case." he said.