November 02, 2015

Chinese newspaper editor sacked for criticising 'war on terror'

editor:	Gurmeet Singh

Zhao Xinwei, editor of the state-run Xinjiang Daily newspaper was removed from his office for 'improperly discussing' and opposing Chinese policy in the country's West.

There has recently been a tightening of rules further limiting criticism of the Communist party.

Zhao's credibility has been in question for some time; after joining the party in 1984 and becoming editor of the paper in 2011, there have been allegations of wrongdoing, misappropriation and condoning injustices.

The policies he criticised include Beijing's attempts to grapple with a 'low-level' insurgency in the West of the country. The government has said it is dealing with religious extremism in the region. Beijing launched the 'people's war on terror' last year, after a series of attacks on civilians in the region. The nation's west is made up of various Muslim communities, some of whom claim they are the victims of government oppression.

The curbing of the freedom to criticise the government, party and its policies is becoming part of a more serious confrontation between the government and its detractors. The party is in control to fire who it pleases, to establish laws that curb criticism of its policies - but it might also indicate a growing level of insecurity at the heart of the government.