NKWE 2022..., page-17

Fair enough, that does make sense. Especially your middle paragraph where you suggest that an early settlement could have easily minimised their loss of face where this long drawn out exercise is only going to compound it. Maybe Zijin was poorly advised and was told that the minorities wouldn't be able to hold out for a just settlement. If that was the case those advisors are probably sharing a re-education camp with the Uyghurs by now.