Beijing’s Westward Push: Power, Tourism and Control
China is rolling out a sweeping plan to knit Xinjiang and Tibet into the mainstream economy, building massive energy, infrastructure and tourism projects that could turn the region into a major power hub and strategic gateway to Europe, while expanding state security and surveillance. Key elements include a colossal hydropower scheme on the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet with long-duty power exports, a multi‑billion‑dollar grid link to Guangdong, and extensive transport and hotel investments in Xinjiang. Analysts say the push strengthens Beijing’s geopolitical and economic clout but critics warn it intensifies repression of Uyghur and Tibetan communities and deepens reliance on state-controlled labor and resources, amid sanctions and global scrutiny of supply chains.
