Southern Xinjiang is arid and barren. The Taklamakan, one of the most barren deserts in the world, is located in the area. Thanks to gigantic irrigation systems built by China’s government in recent decades, the region is nevertheless now one of the largest cotton-growing areas in the world. 87 percent of China’s cotton comes from Xinjiang, around one-fifth of the world’s production. Now the international fashion industry has to justify itself precisely for this. Because a large part of the cotton is apparently harvested under duress – by Muslim Uyghurs.
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