What is Turkey's claim on this area of ​​China, why is the dispute gaining momentum?

New Delhi: The dispute between China and Turkey over the Xinjiang region of China appears to be intensifying. This is due to the ethnic identity, history, and claims of Uighur Muslims regarding this region. Recently, an online debate erupted between Chinese and Turkish social media users on this issue. The controversy began when a Turkish social media user mentioned meeting a Uighur man living in Xinjiang. 

This incident sparked a heated debate between users from both countries regarding identity and historical ties. Xinjiang is a vast region located in northwest China. It is home to approximately 12 million Uighurs and people from other ethnic groups. The majority of these are Turkic-speaking Muslims. Turkey has also been particularly interested in the Uighur community due to their language, culture, and historical ties.

How did the dispute between China and Turkey start?

According to a report in the South China Morning Post, the controversy began earlier this month. A Turkish social media user shared his experience meeting a Uighur girl from Xinjiang. The user wrote that the girl did not look Chinese. When asked if she considered herself Turkic, she replied, "No, I am Chinese." The Turkish user then told her to return to her roots. The post had been viewed more than 2 million times by Friday afternoon. The associated social media account was later deleted.

The issue then escalated beyond a single social media post. A debate erupted between Chinese and Turkish users about the identity of the Uighur community and the historical connection to Xinjiang. Users on both sides used artificial intelligence (AI)-based translation tools to overcome the language barrier, further fueling the debate.

What is Turkey's claim on Xinjiang?

At the heart of this controversy is the term "Turkestan." Turkistan has historically been used to refer to areas of Central Asia inhabited by Turkic-speaking communities. Historically, there have been differing perspectives on the term's usage and geographical scope. The controversy has been further fueled by the use of the term "Turkestan" instead of "Central Asia" in new Turkish textbooks, which include parts of Xinjiang and parts of China's neighboring Gansu and Qinghai provinces.

However, Turkey's formal claim of sovereignty over the region and cultural ties with Turkic communities should not be considered synonymous. The current dispute primarily concerns the historical identity, the region's name, and its cultural ties. China views such interpretations as a challenge to its territorial rights and history. Beijing says that a region cannot be linked to another country simply 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. Turkey is home to thousands of Uighurs and is considered one of the largest diaspora centers of the Uighur community outside Central Asia. Turkey has long criticized China's human rights policies against Uighurs and other minority communities in Xinjiang. China, meanwhile, maintains that its policies in Xinjiang are aimed at combating terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism.

This is why the Xinjiang issue is not limited to ethnic identity alone. It also encompasses issues such as human rights, religious freedom, cultural identity, and China's territorial sovereignty. Turkey's cultural affinity and support for the Uighur community makes this issue even more sensitive. China, on the other hand, opposes any move it considers interference in its internal affairs or a challenge to its territorial integrity.

How are relations between China and Turkey amid the dispute?

Despite differences over Xinjiang, relations between China and Turkey have improved over the past few years. Turkey seeks to increase trade and investment with China to strengthen its economy. China has also been trying to improve political and economic relations with Turkey. In 2024, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Xinjiang, where both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation against terrorism.

Furthermore, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met last year during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, and emphasized the importance of enhancing political trust and respecting each other's core interests.

The growing online controversy surrounding Xinjiang poses a challenge for both countries. On the one hand, China opposes any questioning of its territorial sovereignty and official history, while on the other, Turkey has cultural ties with the Uighur community. This conflict is keeping the dispute in constant discussion.