China labels plane incident a 'terror act'

While the United States has labeled the ETIM a terrorist organization, the State Department alleges widespread abuses of the legal and educational systems by the Communist authorities to suppress Uighur culture and religion.

Uighurs have been sentenced to long prison terms or death on separatism charges, while use of the Uighur language is declining in schools and China's ethnic Han majority dominate the region's economy and government.

Beijing has also labeled as terrorist organizations overseas groups such as the World Uighur Youth Congress and the East Turkestan Information Center that have never publicly advocated violence, according to a State Department report issued this week.