Beijing ( CNN ) China has linked violence in its far-western Muslim region of Xinjiang to ISIS and says Chinese nationals have fought for the extremist group . The Communist Party chief of Xinjiang -- the region 's top official -- told reporters Tuesday to view mounting violence there in the context of a global jihadist movement , especially with the rise of ISIS -- also known as the Islamic State or IS . `` Some extremists in Xinjiang have participated in the IS and I think this further proves that intentional extremist forces can not be ignored , '' said Zhang Chunxian on the sidelines of the annual session of China 's rubber-stamp parliament . `` As countries around the world have realized the dangers of IS ... we will work with others to stop it at its source . '' A spate of violent attacks in Xinjiang -- a resource-rich area long inhabited by the Turkic-speaking Uyghurs -- has killed hundreds of people in the past two years . The government has blamed the incidents on Muslim Uyghur separatists seeking to establish an independent state . China 's state media had earlier reported on Muslim Uyghur militants trying to flee the country and join ISIS training camps in preparation for attacks back home . `` We cracked some cases involving people who had just returned after directly participating in fighting , '' Zhang revealed . `` Such cases sometimes involve 'lone wolves ' and other times involve groups . '' `` The IS situation is historically unprecedented , '' he added , addressing criticism on the Xinjiang government 's lack of transparency . `` To solve such cases ... to ensure people 's safety , we sometimes have to keep things confidential and take our time . '' Exiled Uyghur activists have long disputed the Chinese government 's assertions , pointing to the lack of evidence and accusing the authorities of using the alleged ISIS connection to justify their increasingly harsh rule in the region . Over the past decades , the arrival in Xinjiang of waves of Han Chinese , the country 's predominant ethnic group , has fueled ethnic tensions . Amnesty International has said Uyghurs face widespread discrimination in housing , education and employment , as well as curtailed religious freedom . Other critics have attributed the rise of violence in Xinjiang to Beijing 's repressive reign there -- a claim the government vehemently denies .
China has linked violence in its far-western Muslim region of Xinjiang to ISIS . Top Xinjiang official says Chinese nationals have fought for the extremist group . The U.S. State Department said it is concerned about reports that Uyghurs are being recruited by ISIS.