News from the northwest region of Xinjiang is increas­ingly dire. Some 21 million inhabitants live in this vast territory, which is almost the size of Iran. Until recently, the Muslim Uyghur population were the majority; now they account for 45 per cent.

According to several reputable sources, including Amnesty International, the Chinese government has constructed huge re-education camps that are holding Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities. Estimates for numbers inside range from 500,000 to over a million.