China: Fighting terrorism in Xinjiang or repression of Uighurs?
The fight against terrorism in Xinjiang - that's the title of a Chinese film used by the government to justify its anti-Uighur policies in the far western province. The authorities label the crackdown on dissent and drastic measures against the Muslim minority in the province a war against terrorism. However, the United Nations, western governments and human rights activists criticize China's policies. But China is continuing its policy - surveillance, reeducation, repression of relgious practices and birth control are still being enforced
Author: Axel Dorloff / Speaker: Neil King
China: Curbing Mongolian Language in schools
While these measures against Uighurs continue, another development in the Chinese province of Inner Mongolia has led to protests and resistance from its population in recent weeks. They were sparked by new rules for schools. Beijing has ordered all schools in the region to reduce the amount of teaching in the Mongolian language. Instead all key subjects in schools will now only be taught in Mandarin. Parents and teachers in inner Mongolia have started school strikes, and there have been protests in several citites. Observers have warned of another "cultural genocide" in China - and fear the new rules herald measures similar to what's been happening in Xinjiang and Tibet for years.
Author: Steffen Wurzel/ Speaker: Conor Dillon
Interview China's minority policies and ideology
The move to require all core subjects to be taught in Mandarin rather than Mongolian has stoked fears that Inner Mongolia is set to face similar crackdowns like Tibet and Xinjiang. To put this move into context, I talked to Katja Drinhausen. She's a senior analyst with MERICS, a Berlin based thinktank on China Studies, and she specializes in Chinese governance and ideology. I first asked her why the Chinese government decided to limit the Mongolian language teaching at this particular point in time?
China's investments in Africa
Over the past fourty years, China has opened up to foreign trade and investment, and became one of the world's fastet growing economies. But China has not only boosted its internal development - it's increasingly investing abroad as well. Over the past decade, it's direct investment in Africa has grown considerably - mainly for infrastucture projects and direct loans to African governments. While some fear that China's capital could entrap African governments, many hail Beijing's engagment on the continent, as Antje Diekhans reports. The presenter is Sam Baker.
Author: Antje Diekhans/ speaker: Sam Baker
Interview part II: China's values and global expansion
What Chinese interests when investing in Africa? Also when it comes to its ideology? The other large global economy, the USA, has traditionally framed its foreign investments by saying it also wants to promote "Freedom" and "Democracy" abroad. I asked MERICS analys Katja Drinhausen about the narrative that China is bringing with its investments?