China Wants to Sell The World on Xinjiang Farmed-Fish

In 2018, Chinese state television showcased inland salmon as a remarkable feat. The segment, aired by China Central Television, celebrated salmon farming in western China, highlighting how fish typically found in the open ocean could now be raised inland. The narrator marveled at the "miracle" that such a "precious fish" could be cultivated in the country's barren western region.

However, online viewers quickly questioned the claim, speculating whether the fish was truly salmon or merely dressed up as a more expensive variant.

This skepticism grew as China expanded its fish farms in Xinjiang, a historically restive region known for its deserts and surveillance. The state-led campaign aimed at promoting "Xinjiang seafood" as a marvel of a new China, emphasizing that harsh landscapes could be made productive through engineering. The campaign gained momentum in 2023 when Xinhua News Agency reported that the "Xinjiang seafood" label had surged in prominence on Chinese social media. Government data showed Xinjiang as China's second-largest producer of "salmon."

However, the narrative faced challenges. The 2018 salmon dispute revealed concerns about deception, as some consumers felt they were paying salmon prices for a cheaper fish. Food safety was also a worry, with experts warning about parasite risks from consuming raw freshwater fish. The UFLPA (Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act) further complicated matters, as seafood from Xinjiang ended up in the U.S. violating federal law.

Companies like Tianyun, which ships to 14 countries, including the U.S., defended their operations but insisted the UFLPA allegations were "factually unfounded" and labeled the act as "politically motivated." Despite these challenges, the campaign underscored Beijing's efforts to redirect attention from human rights issues by showcasing industry achievements in a historically restive region.