C3S Occasional Paper I/25: Sinicization and the Normative Struggle in Xinjiang: By S Deepak Raja

Guided by Col. R Hariharan

Image Courtesy: China File

Occasional Paper: 1/2025

An occasional Paper is a single topic research summary of the knowledge surrounding an issue or a problem. It summarises the issue giving clear, concise, and complete information describing all facets of a particular issue including a detailed illustration in the form of images, data, and facts. It also includes recommendations for action and predictions on the future course of an issue.

Abstract

This study examines how China combines cultural assimilation in Xinjiang with a global campaign to reshape human rights norms. Beijing uses language policies, religious regulation, and surveillance to enforce loyalty and reduce cultural differences, treating it as a security threat. At the international level, China ties rights to sovereignty, stability, and economic growth, building support through alliances, UN diplomacy, and official narratives. By advancing this model, China sets new expectations where state control over identity becomes acceptable under the promise of order and development. As more governments remain silent or endorse this framing, they weaken the standards that protect individual freedoms and cultural diversity. The Xinjiang case shows how powerful states can redefine rights on their own terms, shifting global norms toward models that prioritize authority over autonomy.