The dispute between China and Turkey regarding the Xinjiang region of China is being seen to be intensifying. The reason for this is the ethnic identity of the Uyghur Muslims, history and claims related to the region. Recently, there was an online discussion on this issue between Chinese and Turkish social media users. The controversy started when a Turkish social media user mentioned meeting a Uyghur man living in Xinjiang. After this incident, the discussion between the users of both the countries about identity and historical relations gained momentum.

Xinjiang is a large area located in the northwest of China. About 1.2 crore Uighurs and other communities live here. A large population of these are Turkic-speaking Muslims. Due to the language, culture and historical ties of the Uyghur community, Turkey also has a special interest in this community.

How did the dispute between China and Turkey begin?

As reported by the South China Morning Post, the controversy started earlier this month. A Turkish social media user shared his experience of meeting a Uyghur girl from Xinjiang. The user wrote that the girl does not look Chinese. When a user asked him if he considered himself Turkish, he replied, “No, I’m Chinese.” After this the Turkish user told him to return to his origin. As of Friday afternoon, the post had been viewed more than two million times. The social media account concerned was later deleted.

After this, the matter was not limited to just one social media post. A debate began between Chinese and Turkish users over what constitutes the identity of the Uyghur community and the historical connection to Xinjiang. To overcome the language barrier, users on both sides used artificial intelligence (AI) based translation tools. Hence the debate gained momentum.

What is Turkey’s claim on Xinjiang?

At the heart of this controversy is the word ‘Turkistan’. Turkistan has historically been used to refer to areas of Central Asia where Turkic-speaking communities lived. There are various historical views on the use of the term and its geographical scope.

The controversy has been further fueled by the use of the term ‘Turkistan’ instead of ‘Central Asia’ in new Turkish textbooks. The area described in these books includes parts of Xinjiang as well as parts of China’s neighboring provinces of Gansu and Qinghai.

However, Turkey’s claim to formal sovereignty over the region and cultural ties to Turkish communities should not be equated. The current controversy is mainly about the historical identity, name of the region and its cultural ties.

China views such an interpretation as a challenge to its territorial rights and history. Beijing says no region can be annexed to another country on the basis of similarities in language or culture.

Why is there tension between China and Turkey over Uighur Muslims?

Uighur Muslims have been a sensitive issue in relations between China and Turkey. Thousands of Uighurs live in Turkey. It is counted among the main migration centers of the Uyghur community outside of Central Asia.

Turkey has long criticized China’s policies on the human rights of Uighurs and other minority communities in Xinjiang. Also, China says its policies in Xinjiang are to counter terrorism, separatism and religious fundamentalism.

That is why the Xinjiang issue is not limited to ethnic identity. It also includes issues such as human rights, religious freedom, cultural identity and China’s territorial sovereignty.

The cultural affinity and sense of support towards the Uyghur community in Turkey makes this issue even more sensitive. China, on the other hand, opposes any such move, which it considers an interference in its internal affairs or a challenge to its territorial integrity.

What is the relationship between China and Turkey amid the dispute?

Despite differences over Xinjiang, relations between China and Turkey have improved over the past few years. Turkey wants to increase trade and investment with China to strengthen its economy. At the same time, China is also trying to improve political and economic relations with Turkey.

In the year 2024, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Xinjiang. Meanwhile, both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation against terrorism.

Apart from this, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit held in Tianjin, China last year. During this time too, emphasis was placed on enhancing political trust between the two countries and respecting each other’s core interests.

In such a situation, the growing online dispute over Xinjiang is a challenge for both countries. On the one hand, China opposes things that question its territorial sovereignty and official history, while on the other hand, Turkey has cultural ties with the Uyghur community. This controversy continues to keep this controversy under discussion.