In order to achieve a balance of socioeconomic development between the East and West
in the new century, the Chinese government launched “the national strategy of developing
the West” in 1999. This strategy is also a part of the governmental plan to promote
“domestic needs” as a motor to continual economic growth by huge investment in
infrastructure in the West. However, because of the impact of a traditional planning
economy and the low quality of the local labor force, this strategy also leads to competition
between local laborers and in-migrants. The indigenous ethnic minorities in the
West will have to face serious challenges due to their disadvantages in education.
Ethnic tension, that might be associated with religious and political separatism, will be
a fatal threat to the success of the strategy. Based on the analysis of census and statistical
data of occupation and education, this article identifies the major social problem and
discusses the possibilities to improve minority education and raise their opportunities
in the labor market.