Also, the G-5 meet — India, China, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico — was on Wednesday evening, where a political declaration spelling out joint position of these countries on these key global issues was finalised. But Hu did not even wait that long and entrusted the task of representing Beijing at these meetings to State Councilor Dai Bingguo.

His departure has only increased the focus on the Uighurs, the situation in capital Urumqui and China’s unsaid policy of gradually changing the demographics in places like these where now 60 per cent population is said to be Hans. For China, the deteriorating situation also raises an increased threat of Islamic terrorism.

Despite strong undercurrents of violence, Chinese authorities have used their leverage with Pakistan to not allow the tension in the province to acquire a violent Islamic fundamentalist character by way of well-oiled material support. Chinese news sources have put the toll at 156 in the rioting with reports that several paramilitary columns have moved in to ensure calm.

China official threatens death penalty for rioters

URUMQI: As northwest China’s Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region settled into tense stillness on Wednesday after three days of deadly ethnic violence, a Communist Party leader from the region pledged to seek the death penalty for anyone behind the strife that state news reports say claimed at least 156 lives.

Li Zhi, the party boss in Urumqi, the Xinjiang capital, said that many suspected instigators of the riots had been arrested and that most were students.

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