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Why were many Han settlers directed to the Junggar Basin?

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Pagoda near Tian Lake — Xinjiang Pagoda close to Tian Lake, Ürümqi, Uyghur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang, China.

The migration of Han Chinese into the Xinjiang region significantly altered its demographic and ethnic composition, particularly following the establishment of the autonomous region in the 1950s.123

The influx of Han settlers was directed primarily to the Junggar Basin specifically because of the area's resource potential. This development included the establishment of industrial centers and state farms, such as those managed by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, which played a key role in the region's economic development and stability. Notable examples of this industrial and agricultural growth include the development of the petroleum industry in Karamay and agricultural processing in Shihezi, both located within the basin.245