China sends in the troops; Indonesia goes to the polls; acute water shortages in Mumbai; Nobel winner to mediate in Honduras
Top of the Agenda: Chinese Troops Flood Xinjiang
Thousands of Chinese security forces have been deployed into Urumqi, Xinjiang's regional capital, in an attempt to quell turmoil that has led to over 150 deaths and more than 1,400 arrests in recent days. A BBC correspondent in Urumqi says the situation "feels like martial law in everything but name." The troop deployment comes after fresh unrest on Tuesday when thousands of angry ethnic Han Chinese wielding makeshift weapons engaged in sporadic revenge attacks against Uighurs after deadly riots Sunday.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Hu Jintao left the G8 summit in Italy early on Wednesday and returned to Beijing to deal with the violence (WashPost). The Wall Street Journal says Hu's departure from the high-profile international event underlines the severity of the challenge the Xinjiang violence presents to China's leadership.
Kazakhstan's government on Tuesday warned its citizens against traveling to Xinjiang (FT). Kazakhstan has a large Uighur population, many of whom emigrated from China in recent decades.
Background:
A CFR Backgrounder looks at the economic disparities in Xinjiang, and how they have worsened ethnic tensions.
Analysis:
Newsweek looks at the evolution of China's public relations strategy, as evidenced in the latest crisis.
PACIFIC RIM: Indonesian Presidential Elections
Indonesians went to the polls on Tuesday to elect a new president (AP). Incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono appears set for reelection over former president Megawati Sukarnoputri and outgoing Vice President Jusuf Kalla.
Reuters has reaction to the election from economic analysts in the region.
ELSEWHERE:
Mumbai cuts water supply.
Costa Rican president to mediate Honduran crisis.
This is an excerpt of the CFR.org Daily News Brief. The full version is available on CFR.org