Does the Policy on Ethnic Autonomy Work in China? A Critical Examination of Autonomy Enjoyed by Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China

A series of riots happened in Xinjiang in 2009 indicate that Chinese policy on the relationship between the Central Government and Xinjiang Autonomous Region has not worked satisfactorily. It may even be argued that there is something seriously wrong about the policy. The purpose of the paper is to critically evaluate such relationship from legal perspective through comparative study in order to (1) find out what has gone wrong with Chinese ethnic autonomous policy as contained in its Constitution and the national Law on Ethnic Autonomy and (2) offer some suggestions on how to improve the relationship between Xinjiang Autonomous Region and Chinese Central Government.