Spying in Xinjiang? No, I was reporting from China’s energy heartland

As the war in Iran disrupts global oil and chemical supplies, China’s coal-heavy energy sector is seizing an unprecedented opportunity. Dannie Peng visited Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to witness the operations of one of China’s four major bases for large-scale, modern coal-chemical production. In this reporter’s note, she documents her observations and experiences during the trip. For her reporting, read the two-part series here.As a journalist working for a non-local, non-state media outlet, gaining access to Xinjiang has never been easy, especially when it comes to its energy sector – a reality I began to understand even more deeply during my week there.At the end of April, after several months of trying, I finally secured an invitation to visit a large coal mine to observe its unstaffed mining operations in person and set off for northern Xinjiang.