Turkey's efforts to get closer to China worry Uyghur dissidents

2024-06-19 19:26:16, Kosova & Bota CNA

Turkey's efforts to get closer to China worry Uyghur dissidents

Photo from the meeting, source Reuters

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's visit to China marks Ankara's latest attempt to consolidate its strategic position at the crossroads of trade routes between Europe and China. But as Voice of America correspondent Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul, analysts say that Beijing's suspicions about Ankara's support for Chinese Uyghur dissidents continue to become an obstacle to this goal.

Uighurs are raising questions and some are even bracing for possible fallout from Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's recent visit to China and Xinjiang, where many Uighurs live, including Seyit Tumturk, head of the East Turkistan National Assembly.

"The Chinese government is using his [Fidan's] words to try to legitimize the genocide it is doing, to justify the massacre it has done, saying that Hakan Fidan was very, very satisfied with the visit. This is unacceptable."

Minister Fidan's visit to China focused on bilateral trade and the development of new trade routes as the world economy finds ways to bypass sanctions-hit Russia, says Marmara University's Cagdas Ungor.

"Turkey needs to rebuild these ties in order to have a central role, maintaining its status as a bridge between East and West. This idea has now become even more popular due to Russian sanctions and Europeans are also interested in these alternative itineraries. I think there is a space of opportunity," she says.

Ankara is seeking Beijing's support for a Middle Corridor trade route that would connect China to Europe via Central Asia and Turkey.

But Beijing is critical of Ankara over the accommodation it offers to China's largely Uyghur minority. In 2009, when he was prime minister, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused China of committing crimes approaching genocide.

But Prof. Ungor says Foreign Minister Fidan used softer language on the issue during his visit to China and Xinjiang.

"The Chinese were satisfied. Chinese official media basically highlighted the fact that Turkey is supporting the one China policy. Turkey respects China's territorial integrity. Even during his visit to Xinjiang, Hakan Fidani emphasized, for example, Xinjiang's economic development, social harmony, respect for cultural rights, etc., she says.

Beijing is lobbying for the passage of a law that has been awaiting ratification by the Turkish parliament for years that would allow the extradition of Uyghurs wanted by Chinese authorities. Analysts say the approval would help overcome Beijing's reluctance to cooperate with Ankara, says China expert Ceren Ergenc.

"Turkey represents uncertainty for China. The Uighur diaspora is very strong in Turkey in terms of the voter base of the conservative parties....So this also creates a risky investment environment for China. "Turkey is currently officially classified as a high risk investment country for Chinese companies," she says.

Analysts warn that any move by Ankara against the Uighurs will be dangerous given the strong public support in Turkey for the Uighurs. But at the same time, they say, Ankara is determined to achieve its goal of being at the center of trade routes between China and Europe./ VOA