Ethno-Diplomacy: The Uyghur Hitch in Sino-Turkish Relations

Beginning in 1949, China considered, and dealt with, so-called Uyghur separatism and the quest for Eastern Turkestan (Xinjiang) independence as a domestic problem. Since the early 1990s, however, Beijing has begun to recognize the international aspects of this problem and to deal with its external manifestations. This new policy has affect- ed China’s relations with Turkey, which has ideologically inspired Uyghur nationalism, offered sanctuary to Uyghur refugees, and provid- ed moral and material support to Eastern Turkestan movements, organ- izations, and activities.