What happens
The Pacific Story presents a documentary look at Xinjiang, a vast, resource-rich region of Central Asia where Russia, China, Britain and Japan have long competed for influence. The program describes the mix of peoples who live there, including Kyrgyz, Tatars, White Russians, Uighurs and Chinese. It traces the region's history as a crossroads of trade along the ancient silk road, its oil, coal and agriculture, and the rebellions and shifting alliances of its rulers. General Sheng and later General Shang figure in its account, which closes with the region's preparations for its part in the wider war.
Xinjiang (Sinkiang), a remote region of Central Asia on the roof of the world where Russia, China and India meet, with its capital at Urumchi
Characters: Kyrgyz shepherd, Tatar, White Russian, Uighur, General Sheng, Ma Chung-ying, General Shang
Listen for: The description of the ethnic groups of Xinjiang and the account of General Shang's reforms and his Russian-backed modernization of the region
Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.