Global Times lied about detention center satellite imagery

Last updated Nov 21, 2022

Same page but on Notion

The Xinjiang Data Project by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) gathers empirical research on human rights issues in Xinjiang. On their map, you can browse satellite imagery of suspected detention centers, and destructed mosques and cultural sites.

This Global Times article tries to show that the detention centers claimed by ASPI are actually regular facilities. They try to do this in two dishonest ways:

1. They try to show the first three facilities are not detention centers by shifting the coordinates a few hundred meters to show another completely different building.
2. They cherry pick the tier 1 detention centers which are repurposed school-type facilities, without even touching the tier 3 and 4 (heavily secured) facilities.

The “detention center” (geographic coordinates: 38.8367N, 77.7056E) claimed by ASPI, is actually a gerocomium in Markit county, Kashi Prefecture, Xinjiang

The coordinates shown on Global Times are way off. Thanks to AntdavinsonNZ for this one.^[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHc-TdusgaI]

The “detention center” (geographic coordinates: 38.9950N, 77.6682E) claimed by ASPI, is actually an elementary school in Yantaq township, Markit county, Kashi Prefecture, Xinjiang

The actual coordinates as shown on ASPI are 38.995128N, 77.665055E

The “detention center” (geographic coordinates: 39.8252N, 78.5501E) claimed by ASPI, is actually a logistics park in Bachu county, Kashi Prefecture, Xinjiang

The real coordinates are 39.82520748, 78.5501632

The “detention center” (geographic coordinates: 38.9046N, 77.6153E) claimed by ASPI, is actually a middle school in Markit county, Kashi Prefecture, Xinjiang

Congratulations to Global Times. This is the only mistake they got right. Mekit Facility #4 cannot be found on ASPI’s map anymore, but I could find it on the internet archive^[https://web.archive.org/web/20201128051148/https://xjdp.aspi.org.au/map/?marker=3549] thanks to reddit^[https://www.reddit.com/r/Sino/comments/k2fsfv/xinjiang_offers_realsite_photos_to_debunk/]. It’s safe to assume ASPI took it down because it is actually a middle school.^[The school is called 麦盖提县第四中学.] Therefore this is the only case where Global Times is right.