Erkin Tuniyaz
Erkin Tuniyaz (also spelled Arkin Tuniyaz, ; ; born December 1961) is a Chinese politician of Uyghur origin who is the current chairman of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, in office since 30 September 2021. He is an alternate member of the 19th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. Biography. Erken Tuniyaz was born in Aksu County, Xinjiang, in December 1961. After graduating from Changji Normal School in 1983, he stayed at the university and worked successively as deputy secretary and secretary of the Communist Youth League of China. After a short period of working in the Department of Personnel  Matters of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in August 1992, he was dispatched to the Organization Department of the CCP's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Committee, where he eventually rose to become deputy head in October 1999. In February 2005, he was transferred to Hotan Prefecture and appointed deputy party secretary and mayor. In January 2008, he was appointed vice chairman of Xinjiang, and was promoted to member of the standing committee of the Xinjiang Regional Committee, the region's top authority. On 30 September 2021, he was named acting chairman of Xinjiang, replacing Shohrat Zakir. U.S. sanctions. On 10 December  2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury added Tuniyaz to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list. Individuals on the list have their assets blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them.