Farmers in Uzbekistan are reportedly being forced to relinquish their land to Chinese businesses, primarily for cotton and wheat farming, under the claim of state development. While officials state the land transfers are voluntary, many farmers describe intimidation and threats from law enforcement, suggesting a coercive process. These events highlight growing anti-Chinese sentiment in Central Asia as locals express fears over land seizures and a perceived increase in foreign influence. The situation embodies a larger issue of sovereignty and local control in a region undergoing significant economic pressure.
The governor told me: 'This is a presidential order. Either give up the land or go to jail,' said one farmer who spoke on condition of anonymity over fear of reprisal for commenting publicly on the issue.
I did not want to give up my land and put up some resistance, but in response, the district governor called more than 20 police officers and the National Guard to the district administration building and ordered them to arrest me and my wife.
Land transfers in the Ferghana Valley, which is shared between Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, are the latest flashpoint in what is becoming an increasingly visible and volatile undercurrent across Central Asia.
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