Recently here has been a fairly steady occurrence of violent events in Xinjiang or attributed to separatists from Xinjiang in other parts of the country.
Perhaps the biggest or most known took place in Kunming, Yunnan a few months ago - a few months after I spent a week there. Another was in the news in Xinjiang itself just yesterday.
I have heard that part of the Chinese government's response includes promoting tourism to Xinjiang, at least of Chinese citizens if not for foreigners.
But I'm wondering how safe it is for foreign / western tourists. Obviously in a restive place there's an increased chance of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but I'm more concerned with whether foreigners are targeted in attacks of this kind, or if they're directed at Han Chinese, or if they are totally random.
I've been thinking of visiting this part of the world on my next trip. I don't avoid places that are "dangerous" but I do avoid places where tourists, foreigners, or westerners are specifically targeted.