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FROM CENTRAL ASIA TO THE UYGHURS:

REFINING THE AMERICAN GRAND STRATEGY

Thesis Statement

BRIEF OVERVIEW

This Policy proposal constructs an analysis of the roots of the conflict and causes for the lack of support for the Uyghurs; along with the need for international support for the plight of the Uyghur people. Furthermore, it puts forth the argument that it is in the interest of the American Grand Strategy in Central Asia , Asia Pacific, and Eurasia overall to consider the national aspirations of the Uyghurs in order to counter China’s aggressive expansion and promote peace and democracy internationally.

  • THESIS STATEMENT
  • INTRODUCTION
  • LACK OF INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT/SYMPATHY FOR UYGHURS
  • The LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROTECTION OF UYGHUR RIGHTS
  • THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR PROTECTION OF UYGHUR RIGHTS
  • MEDIA COVERAGE ON THE UYGHURS
  • UYGHURS AND EDUCATION
  • CONCLUSION
  • RECOMMENDATIONS

Introduction

  • The significant change in the Demography of East Turkistan, is one of the key factors contributing to the present Uyghur Conflict.
  • Prior to the Chinese occupation of the Uyghur homeland in 1949, the Uyghurs made up roughly 90% of East Turkistan's population, today they are believed to be around 45%
  • In 1949 prior to the Chinese occupation of East Turkistan, the Chinese made up less than 4% of East Turkistan's population, today they make up at least 40% (not including the 3.2 million Bingtuan Para-Military Corp (Frontier Guards) troops, The 600,000 PLA (People's Liberation Army) troops, and the 200,000 PAP (People's Armed Police) forces. If Chinese Security forces are put into the population stastics, then the Han Chinese makeup well over 50% of East Turkistan's population as of 2015.
  • The historical context, and the reality that "Xinjiang" (New Territory) is new to the Han Chinese, but has been the homeland of the Uyghurs for milleniums.
  • The Qing Dynasty conquered East Turkistan in 1884, renaming it to"Xinjiang" ('New Territory'), however in 1930s /1940s Uyghurs established their own independent state of East Turkistan.
  • East Turkistan was betrayed at the Yalta Conference in 1945, as part of "concession" given to the Soviets by Roosevelt.
  • Since 9/11, China has labeled the Uyghurs as "terrorists" in efforts to eradicate Uyghur culture, religion, and identity, amidst increasing international silence.
  • In recent years, China's neighbors and adversaries (the US) has becoming increasing alarmed by China's aggressive expansion into Central Asia. and the Asia Pacific.
  • It is thus, in the interest of the United States, and China's weary neighbors to support the Uyghur nation to balance against China's alarming expansion.

the Lack of International Support/SYMPATHY for the Uyghurs

The LEgal FRAMEWORK FOR THE PRoTECTiON OF UYGHUR RIGHTS

  • The International Community is overwhelmed by the China's political and mostly Economic Power.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

  • Many states (especially much of China's neighbors are economically reliant on China), thus China uses its economic leverage to silence international criticism regarding China's repression of the Uyghurs.
  • The sad reality that trade is much more important than human rights, or democracy.
  • The United States and other member states of the UN can use the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to pressure China to respect the rights of the Uyghur people, as China has signed and ratified it.
  • The fact that the Uyghurs are Muslim, and the bad rap on Islam post 9/11

UN Declaration on Indigenous Rights

Media Coverage on the Uyghurs

  • Unfortunately, the Uyghurs lack media coverage due to a number of reasons

Uyghurs and Education

  • Chinese State Security apparatus
  • Lack of Foreign media outlets in East Turkistan
  • Chinese government censorship
  • In East Turkistan, the Uyghurs are deprived of Education in their own language
  • Media Misconceptions of the Uyghurs
  • Since 9/11, China has banned the teaching of Uyghur language, history, and culture in school, replacing it with Chinese in order to "modernize the Uyghurs"
  • Lack of Oppurtunities for Higher Education
  • There is a media misconception, that has been raised numerous times by the ETGE, WUC, and other Uyghur organizations. The misconception is that the media often labels the Uyghurs as "Chinese Muslims" or "Chinese Uyghurs" when in reality the Uyghurs are ethnically Turkic with no ties whatsoever to the Chinese nation.
  • The Chinese government deliberately makes university entrance exam harder for Uyghurs, often barring them getting a higher education
  • Some universities also requires Uyghurs to meet political loyalty standards (which include having to denounce their identity, take Chinese names, and denounce their religion.)
  • Toeing the Official Chinese line
  • Targeting of Uyghur Intellectuals
  • In recent years, the Chinese government has been targeting Uyghur intellectuals, often imprisoning, and executing them .
  • Lack of Uyghur intellecutals and Uyghur studies in the west
  • Unfortunately, much of western media often toes the official Chinese line, and buys into and promotes China's claims that the "root of tension is religious extremism, and "separatism"; when in reality its the socio-economic issues that are more so the root of conflict.
  • Due to lack of higher educational oppurtunities in East Turkistan, many Uyghurs remain ignorant of the world around them, their own culture, history, and religion. This too is similiar situation among the diaspora communties.
  • Also, in the west, there are no programs that encourage or focus on Uyghur studies

Conclusion

  • Surge in Chinese Dominance in Central Asia / Asia-Pacific
  • In recent years, China has been aggressively pushing it's economic/political dominance, posing threats to regional and international stability.

Recommendations

  • It is in the best interest of the United States government to include the interests of the Uyghur people in their grand Eurasian strategy
  • The US Government should pass a Uyghur Policy, one that is beneficial to preserving US interests in Central Asia and preserving the rights of the Uyghur
  • Growing Uyghur Insurgency
  • Amidst growing repression, the Uyghurs have increasingly been turning to violent methods to counter China's efforts to eradicate them.
  • Media Policy : Refer to the Uyghurs as ethnic Turks and not "Chinese Muslims" or "Chinese Uyghurs", also refer to Uyghur homeland as East Turkistan not "Xinjiang"
  • Foreign Policy: Pressure foreign governments, including China and Central Asian states to ease the restrictions on the Uyghurs. Recognize the East Turkistan Government in Exile as the flagbearer of the Uyghur independence movement.
  • Eduation Policy: Give out a minimum of 15-20 full ride scholarships to those interested in studying Uyghur Studies, and also give out at least 15-20 full ride scholarships to members of the Uyghur diaspora to study in International Relations, Politics, Economics, and other academic programs.
  • Domestic Policy: Ease the visa and political assylum applications for the Uyghurs
  • Congress: Set up a Uyghur Affairs Sub-Committee under the CEEC to implement and follow through with the remainder of the Uyghur Policy and further developments.
  • US Foreign Policy and its Grand Strategy in Eurasia
  • China's push into Central Asia/Asia-Pacific is an immediate threat to U.S. interests in the region, both in the short-term and long-term.
  • The US can utilize the Uyghurs, just like the Kurds in the middle east to preserve US interests in Central Asia and Asia-Pacific in the long run.
  • This declaration underlines the rights of indigenous groups, and thus can be used to protect Uyghur rights, should members of the UN Security Council raise this issue.
  • Since 9/11, China has used the pre-text of fighting against "religious extremism" and "terrorism" to crush and eradicate the Uyghurs.
  • Increasing Islamophobia and the rise of radical Islamist movements like Al-Qaeda, and ISIS have highly damaged the perception of Muslims, thus damaging the perception of the Uyghurs.

Instutional Framework for the Preservation of Uyghurs

  • United Nations
  • The UN is the largest internationa instution with stated goals of international peace , social progress, and human rights.
  • East Turkistan Government in Exile

Human Rights Commitments and Pledges of the United States

  • The East Turkistan Government in Exile is a Uyghur international umbrella organization that serves as a governing body and represents Uyghurs interests and bid for independene to the international community.
  • World Uyghur Congress
  • The WUC is an international Uyghur NGO that pushes mainly for human rights, and awareness on the Uyghur plight, they have however don't openly advocate for Independence.
  • China's State Security and Intelligence apparatus targeting Uyghurs (internally and externally)
  • Congressional Executive Commission on China
  • The CECC is a US Congress committee that focuses on China, in the past they have been very critical of China's policies in Tibet, and established a sub committee to deal with Tibetan issues.
  • Should the US develop a Policy on the Uyghurs, the CEEC would have a huge impact and would oversee the implementation of the policy.
  • The United States has numerous policies in which they are obligated to uphold and promote human rights both within the US and Internationally, thus again should the US push forth this as an agenda item in US-China diplomacy, then it would greatly benefit the Uyghur nation.
  • China has a massive intelligence apparatus that often forcibly disappears, extra judicially detains and executes thousands of Uyghurs, forcing the Uyghurs into submission through state terror.
  • Spying on and disrupting political activities of Uyghur activists overseas.
  • Sowing dis-unity amongst the Uyghur diaspora communities by using agents to infiltrate Uyghur organizations, and communities, thus keeping them dis-united using the classical "divide and conquer" strategy.

Ethnic Autonomy Laws of the P.R.C. (China)

  • China's own laws state that "certain ethnic groups especially in the 'Autonomous' Regions, have the right to freely practice their language, culture, religion, and be governed by their own laws that protect their ethnic interests." Of course, it would be nice if China would uphold its own laws, but then again there is no international pressure to convince China.

Salih Hudayar

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