A statement issued by the spokesman of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Hami Aksoy, on late Feb. 9, that accused
China of imposing
“torture and political brainwashing in internment camps and prisons” on
Uighur Turks was a surprise to many, even to members of the
Uighur diaspora.
A
Uighur academic and activist, Tahir İmin, speaking to the New York Times, expressed his satisfaction with the Turkish reaction against
China, saying “Many of us have criticized the Turkish government for its stance on the subject, but today many Uighurs expressed their happiness and joy thanks to the Turkish authorities.” He also expressed his hope that “the Turkish government can lead the way for the other Muslim nations to bring some more pressure on the Chinese government.”
There is a reason why the Turkish government’s move against
China has been interpreted as a surprising development.
The well-being and comfort of the
Uighur Turks in
China have always been a concern to
Turkey and the Turkish public opinion due to strong ethnic and religious bonds.
Turkey has never hesitated to confront
China at times when Beijing imposed new restrictions and regulations on
Uighur Turks. The governments’ moves have always been accompanied by a mass street protest against the Chinese administration.
However, for a while, the Turkish side was keeping quiet on the same matter even after
China started to implement the “Sinification of All Religions and Beliefs” policy in 2017.
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, which has been aiming to further improve economic and trade ties with
China, has been deliberately low-profile on the developments. Turkish diplomats, who have been attending UN-led meetings on
Uighur Turks, were preferring a rather softer language on
China. It was the ruling AKP which had rejected a parliamentary motion tabled by the Good Party in late 2018 in a bid to investigate the recent human rights violations by the Chines government on the
Uighur Turks.
This stance of the government has kicked off reactions both in the international arena and inside
Turkey. The ultra-nationalist Great Union Party (BBP), the nationalist Good Party and other minor parties were bashing the AKP for not raising its voice on the ongoing oppression of the
Uighur Turks.
The BBP held a massive protest on
Uighur Turks on Jan. 24 calling the government to act on the state of their kin “in eastern Turkistan.” Scores of similar protests and meetings have long been taking place in different corners of the Anatolia in recent months, increasing the pressure on the AKP.
The AKP, with a strong political Muslim identity, has always been very vocal and active to protect the rights and the lives of Muslims under oppression in practicing their religions and other freedoms. So, its silence on recent developments has been regarded as inconsistency and its soft spot, which was leaving the AKP officials uncomfortable and troubled when this issue was raised.
Another reason, perhaps, was about the passing away of the distinguished folk poet Abdurehim Heyit, in his second year of imprisonment in
China, a tragedy that was regarded as final straw by Ankara which prompted this statement.
Although, of course, that would be too unfair to suggest that this strong-worded action against
China has merely domestic political drives, it’s hard to speculate about other reasons.
The move comes as
Turkey is trying to develop ties with
China almost on every field and as President Erdoğan has invited President Xi Jinping for an official trip to
Turkey in 2019. Plus, as recalled by the NYT, Turkish criticism comes after receiving a $3.6 billion loan for
Turkey’s energy and transportation sector from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of
China, a state-owned bank.
At a time when
Turkey is developing new alliances in the East, along with Russia and other major partners, this spat with
China contradicts with this vision.
Whatever the reason behind this move is,
Turkey’s statement should be seen as a new position on
China adopted by the AKP government The fact that the statement by the Turkish spokesman is unprecedentedly very strong as it describes the “policy of systematic assimilation” against
Uighur Turks as “a great shame for humanity” will sure have consequences on Ankara-Beijing ties.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/op...ey-hits-china-hard-over-uighur-why-now-141136