The Unlikely Buddha

The Uyghurs are a Turkic people who have been living in Xinjiang, China for centuries. They are the largest ethnic minority in Xinjiang, making up about 10% of the population. The Uyghurs are predominantly Muslim, and they have a distinct culture and language. Early History The Uyghurs are descended from a group of nomadic people who migrated to Xinjiang from the Eurasian Steppe in the 8th century AD. They established a powerful kingdom, the Uyghur Khaganate, which ruled over much of Central Asia. The Uyghur Khaganate was eventually destroyed by the Mongols in the 13th century, but the Uyghurs remained in Xinjiang. Qing Dynasty In the 18th century, the Uyghurs were conquered by the Qing Dynasty, which ruled over China from 1644 to 1912. The Qing Dynasty imposed strict controls on the Uyghurs, and they were subjected to discrimination and persecution. Republic of China In 1912, the Qing Dynasty was overthrown, and the Republic of China was established. The Uyghurs hoped that the new rep...

Xi Jinping, born on June 15, 1953 in Beijing, is the current President of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC). He has held these positions since 2013, making him the most powerful Chinese leader since Deng Xiaoping. Xi Jinping as a young man Xi's father, Xi Zhongxun, was a prominent politician who served as Vice Premier of China from 1959 to 1966. Xi's mother, Qi Xin, was a teacher. Xi was the third of four children. In his early years, Xi lived in the Zhongnanhai compound, a heavily secured area in Beijing where top Communist Party leaders resided. Zhongnanhai compound Xi was educated at the prestigious Tsinghua University, where he studied chemical engineering from 1971 to 1979. During his time at Tsinghua, Xi joined the CPC and became known for his political activism. Tsinghua University After graduating from Tsinghua, Xi was sent to work in the countryside as a "sent-down youth" for seven years. This...