The New Great Game Round-Up #49

The Great Game Round-Up brings you the latest newsworthy developments regarding Central Asia and the Caucasus region. We document the struggle for influence, power, hegemony and profits between a U.S.-dominated NATO, its GCC proxies, Russia, China and other regional players.

On April 27, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where he spent four days visiting schools, factories and companies as well as inspecting local armed police and watching a military exercise. Xi's visit came amid increasing efforts by the local authorities to contain “potential hazards to society” including growing too much facial hair. China's President lauded the efforts and emphasized the importance of Xinjiang's long-term stability to the whole nation. Therefore, fighting separatism takes top priority and Xi stated that China will deploy a “strike-first” strategy against terrorists in the region. Only hours after the Chinese leader had finished his four-day trip, the terrorists were the ones who struck first:

Three dead, 79 injured in Xinjiang railway station terrorist attack

Three people were confirmed dead and 79 others were injured in a violent terrorist attack at a railway station in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Wednesday evening.

Four people are seriously injured but in stable condition, said the publicity department of the regional committee of the Communist Party of China.

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