East Turkistan is very rich in natural resources. More than one third of the petroleum reserve and two third of the coal reserve of China are in East Turkistan. Gold, Uranium, copper and other precious metals and mineral ores are also very abundant. East Turkistan is the biggest cotton-producing region in China. It is also one of the top three meat producers in China.

Despite the wealth of East Turkistan, more than 90% of local Muslims still live below the poverty line. Because the economy favors only the Chinese, the natural resources are used to serve only the needs of the exploding Chinese population. It does not benefit the Uyghurs at all.

Unemployment among Uyghurs is extremely high, while the Chinese in East Turkistan are fully employed. For example, the petroleum industry in East Turkistan hires close to half a million people, but it hires almost exclusively Chinese workers. Even for the governmental jobs in the Uyghur countryside where virtually no Chinese reside the government sends Chinese soldiers, all of whom are at most high school graduates, while many Uyghur college graduates who are better qualified for the positions can not find a job.

All the unused arable lands were occupied by Bintuan, a group of paramilitary state farms that formed from retired Chinese soldiers and Chinese settlers. They often settle at the upper reaches of the main rivers and reduce the water supply to traditional Uyghur farmlands. They aslo heavily contaminate the rivers. No room to expand and not enough water to sustain the existing farmlands, the Uyghur villeges has become overcrowded and poorer. Most Uyghur farmers still have no access to electricity and clean water. They drink from the contaminated rivers. As a result, disease is wide spread. But, majority of the farmers do not have access to the health care system, and most of them could not afford to see a doctor when they get sick.