throwaway29875's comments

I have to disagree with this. I think that people are afraid to "clarify the situation" in China because they will be downvoted or harassed. It's the reason I'm using a throwaway.

What China is doing is draconian and brutal, but it's like the media is completely wrong about the reason.

First, this is China's reaction to a string of horrying terrorist attacks.

Second, if any other country was doing this, the media would be calling them "de-radicalization centers."

Third, it isn't about oppressing Muslims or even Uighurs, but "potential terrorists."

Of course the decision on who is a "potential terrorist" is the main issue. China is being very heavy handed and that is where the ire should be directed.

I think this article gives a much better observation of what is going on over there:

https://palladiummag.com/2018/11/29/a-week-in-xinjiangs-abso...

There were numerous terrorist attacks, with one of the worst being in Kunming (2014) where 31 people were killed and more than 140 others injured.

So it's like a National Security Letter on steroids?

The US does have execution drones that target people based on metadata [1].

> In 2014, former CIA and NSA director Michael Hayden said in a public debate, “We kill people based on metadata.”

> According to multiple reports and leaks, death-by-metadata could be triggered, without even knowing the target’s name, if too many derogatory checks appear on their profile. “Armed military aged males” exhibiting suspicious behavior in the wrong place can become targets, as can someone “seen to be giving out orders.” Such mathematics-based assassinations have come to be known as “signature strikes.”

1. https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/how-...

I'm really surprised they didn't go ahead and blame the pilot's "ethnic culture" like the did with Asiana 214 [1]

1. https://www.cnbc.com/id/100869966