Pipe dreams

The world is watching China as the Uighur revolt unfolds. We look at media comment on this as well as other critical global developments.

Chinese rule

Uighurs and Tibetans have similar feelings towards Chinese rule, writes The Economist. 

"... Like the anti-Chinese riots last year in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital, the savagery in Urumqi shows that modernisation does not always dampen resentment against Chinese rule. …
Like Tibetans, Uighurs feel colonised, as Xinjiang’s natural resources — it is rich in oil and gas — benefit the rich coastal regions. ..."

Nabucco pipeline

A deal to pipe gas from Turkey to Austria was signed on 13 July by the five countries the pipeline will cross. But, writes the Financial Times, the Nabucco pipeline will not end the EU's energy security problems.

"... Nabucco remains far from a done deal: it is unclear where the gas will come from. Iran, Turkmenistan and Iraq have large reserves, but hardly qualify as riskless sources of supply. ... The Middle East and central Asia are so rich in gas that there will be no shortage of supply once there is a way to bring it to market. Perhaps. But if risk-averse private investors think otherwise, Monday’s agreement may yet prove stillborn. ..."

Nuclear proliferation

Barack Obama has created optimism with his calls to reduce nuclear proliferation, writes the Times of India. But the media also has a role to play in this important process.

"... Although climate change is more on the global agenda nowadays, nuclear disarmament poses similar issues. Acting on either would require many nations undertaking simultaneous actions. Yet ignoring them can have catastrophic consequences not limited by national boundaries. In both senses they are global issues which require, among other things, consciousness-raising by media across the world. ..."