Yecheng is impoverished compared to the rest of Xinjiang , and itself experienced violent unrest in the 1980s and 1990s . In 1998 , Yecheng saw the U.S.-designated terrorist East Turkestan Islamic Movement blow up a natural gas pipeline and injure three people , as well as several explosions , according to authorities . Since 2009 , according to Professor Barry Sautman , attacks in Xinjiang have become " more ... spectacular , like storming police stations and attacks on police " . Generally , Chinese authorities trace these attacks to Muslim hardliners who want independence from China , trained indigenously or in Pakistan . Yecheng is located between two cities which have seen Uyghur militant attacks in 2011 , Kashgar and Hotan . In December , police rescued hostages held by suspected terrorists in Pishan , another remote border town . Xinjiang authorities aimed to recruit 8,000 extra police for 2012 for extra security before a new government is formed at the 18th National Congress
Kashgar
2011 Kashgar attacks
2012 Yecheng attack