Final answer:
Xinjiang has experienced unrest due to Uyghur nationalism and demands for independence, incited by Chinese government assimilation policies and alleged human rights abuses, including mass detentions in "re-education centers."
Step-by-step explanation:
Xinjiang Unrest and Uyghur Nationalism
The unrest in the western Chinese province of Xinjiang, also known as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, is primarily due to the demands of the area's Uyghur population, a Turkic ethnic group. Xinjiang, meaning "new province" in Chinese, has a diverse ethnic composition with 43 percent Uyghurs and 41 percent Han Chinese, with the remainder being Kazakhs and other groups. The region became part of China in 1759 and was formally incorporated as a province in 1884.
In recent history, the Chinese government's policies to assimilate the Uyghurs and nullify their cultural and religious identity have incited significant ethnic tensions. Reported incidents include the July 2009 riots in Urumqi, forcible removal of veils, and the banning of fasting during Ramadan. China's establishment of so-called "re-education centers," which have been criticized as internment camps aimed at detaining up to one million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, is a point of major international concern.
The situation in Xinjiang has drawn parallels with other regions under Chinese control, like Tibet, which has experienced similar policies of cultural assimilation and repression. These actions by the Chinese government have led to Uyghur nationalists demanding independence and being accused of conducting terror attacks within China. The conflict in Xinjiang has escalated due to crackdowns by the Chinese authorities, which promotes resistance and international criticism for human rights violations.