Inner Asia

Uzbekistan: pre-election crackdown intensifies

The Uzbek government is cracking down on rights activists before parliamentary elections, Human Rights Watch charges—while criticizing the West for staying silent.

Inner Asia

China opens new Caspian gas pipeline

Chinese President Hu Jintao is in Astana to unveil the Kazakh section of a 4,300-mile gas pipeline joining Central Asia to China—the first route strategically bypassing Russia.

Inner Asia

Arunachal Pradesh: pawn in the new Great Game

China protested a visit by India’s prime minister to a region in Arunachal Pradesh claimed as Chinese territory—which was a CIA staging ground for Tibetan guerillas in the 1960s.

Inner Asia

Rebiya Kadeer protests Uighur death sentences

Exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer protested death sentences handed down to six Uighur men this week for their role in July’s violent unrest in China’s Xinjiang region.

Inner Asia

China to try suspects held after Xinjiang riots

China will begin trials over the next weeks for suspects accused in last month’s deadly riots in Xinjiang. Human rights groups have little confidence the tribunals will be fair.

Inner Asia

Kyrgyzstan election results contested

Kyrgyzstan’s incumbent Kurmanbek Bakiyev claims an 85% of the vote in the weekend’s presidential election, but challenger Almazbek Atambayev is questioning the results.