Uyghur Advocate Criticizes China's Deepest Vertical Well Amidst Allegations of Exploitation

Rushan Abbas condemned China's new deepest well project in Xinjiang as a sign of exploitation and control over the Uyghur region. Criticism focuses on the links between resource exploitation and human rights abuses, as well as accusations of forced labor and efforts to erase Uyghur culture and identity.

Rushan Abbas, Executive Director of the Campaign for Uyghurs, vocally opposed China's recent completion of the deepest vertical well in Asia, located in Xinjiang's Tarim Basin. Abbas described the initiative as a further step in the Chinese Communist Party's colonial ambitions, exploiting the region's resources while disregarding the rights of the Uyghur people.

Her remarks came following an AsiaNews report on the China National Petroleum Corporation's (CNPC) accomplishment in drilling this well, which descends 10,910 meters, making it the second-deepest on-land well globally. The report highlighted that Xinjiang, beaming with over 300 ultra-deep wells, plays a crucial role in China's advancements in oil and gas exploration technology, yet simultaneously, it underscores the ongoing oppression of the Muslim Uyghur population.

Global scrutiny on China's treatment of the Uyghur population continues, with severe allegations of human rights abuses such as forced labor and arbitrary detention in 're-education' camps. While the Chinese government claims these actions counter extremism, worldwide criticism points to systematic repression and threats to erase Uyghur culture, prompting international condemnation and sanctions.

(With inputs from agencies.)