Xi Calls for ‘Sinicization of Islam’ During Visit to Xinjiang

Chinese President Xi Jinping (AP)
Chinese President Xi Jinping (AP)
TT

Xi Calls for ‘Sinicization of Islam’ During Visit to Xinjiang

Chinese President Xi Jinping (AP)
Chinese President Xi Jinping (AP)

Chinese President Xi Jinping made a rare visit to Xinjiang on Saturday, calling on officials to promote the “Sinicization of Islam” and effectively control illegal religious activities in a troubled region where Beijing is accused of severe human rights abuses.

State broadcaster CCTV said that during his first publicly known visit to Xinjiang since July 2022, the Chinese President stressed that top priority must always be given to maintaining social stability. “We must use stability to guarantee development,” he said.

Xi added, it was “necessary to... combine the development of the anti-terrorism and anti-separatism struggle with the push for normalizing social stability work and rule of law,” according to the broadcaster.

CCTV said Xi also urged officials to more deeply promote the Sinicization of Islam and effectively control illegal religious activities.

“In the process of Chinese-style modernization, we will better build a beautiful Xinjiang that is united and harmonious, wealthy and prosperous,” he added.

The Chinese government has pursued a years-long campaign against what it describes as terrorism and Islamic extremism in the northwestern region, detaining large numbers of Uyghurs and other Muslims, AFP said.

A United Nations report last year found China's actions in Xinjiang may constitute “crimes against humanity”, and the United States and legislatures in other countries have labelled the policies a “genocide”-- claims Beijing denies.

Beijing also vehemently rejects allegations it exposed forced labor on members of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, saying training programs, work plans and better education have helped eradicate extremism in the region.

In Saturday's speech, Xi said officials must “strengthen positive publicity and show Xinjiang's new atmosphere of openness and self-confidence... (while) refuting all forms of false public opinion and negative or harmful speech,” CCTV reported.

The region should also open up further to domestic and foreign tourism, Xi said, according to the broadcaster.



Israel Launches Communications Satellite from Florida

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft lifts off at Launch Complex 39A at NASA Kennedy Space Center before the launch of Axiom Space Axiom Mission on June 25, 2025, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images/AFP
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft lifts off at Launch Complex 39A at NASA Kennedy Space Center before the launch of Axiom Space Axiom Mission on June 25, 2025, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images/AFP
TT

Israel Launches Communications Satellite from Florida

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft lifts off at Launch Complex 39A at NASA Kennedy Space Center before the launch of Axiom Space Axiom Mission on June 25, 2025, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images/AFP
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft lifts off at Launch Complex 39A at NASA Kennedy Space Center before the launch of Axiom Space Axiom Mission on June 25, 2025, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images/AFP

Israel on Sunday said it had launched a new national communications satellite on board a SpaceX rocket from the United States.

The Dror 1 satellite was blasted into orbit on a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral in Florida, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the foreign ministry said.

"This $200 million 'smartphone in space' will power Israel's strategic and civilian communications for 15 years," the ministry wrote on X.

Accompanying video footage showed the reusable, two-stage rocket lift off into the night sky. SpaceX said the launch happened at 1:04 am in Florida (0504 GMT Sunday).

IAI, which called the launch "a historic leap for Israeli space technology", said when it announced the project to develop and build Dror 1 that it was "the most advanced communication satellite ever built in Israel".

In September 2016, an unmanned Falcon 9 rocket exploded during a test in Florida, destroying Israel's Amos-6 communications satellite, which was estimated to have cost between $200 and 300 million.