East Turkestan, How Close? (End)

Named as Xinjiang (Xinjiang), meaning "new territory or new territory" by China, East Turkestan is the homeland of the Uyghur Turks, who adopted Islam in the 1300s. East Turkestan is the area where many Turkish states were established since the Hun Empire, known as the first Turkish state in history. Gok-Turk, Uyghur and Karakhanid states are the most famous of them. In addition, there are historical Turkish cities such as Kaşgar, Aksu, Hoten, Sayram, Turfan, Kumul (Hami), Yarkent and Gulca, including the capital Urumqi (Beşbalık), which is extremely important for Turkish scientific and intellectual life.

The geopolitical and strategic importance of East Turkestan

Although the apparent cause of the East Turkestan problem is perceived as ethnic and religious differences, the main reason is the population and domestic resettlement policies implemented by the Chinese administration, the effects of the emergence of the richness of its natural resources, the opportunities offered by the geopolitical position of the region and the Chinese economy's "one generation, one road" after 2013. The main route exit of the ” project is located here.

East Turkestan is China's gateway to the west. Chinese; It also needs agricultural production besides the natural resources of East Turkestan. By relocating the unemployed Han Chinese residing in rural interiors to Xinjiang, Chinese governments both strive to make up the majority of the ethnic group in Xinjiang and aim to increase agricultural production. The increasing Han population naturally plays a role in disrupting the autonomous structure of the region in favor of the Uyghurs, while increasing ethnic tensions between the Uyghurs and the Han Chinese.

Throughout history, the East Turkestan region has acted as a buffer, protecting China against foreign invasions. The Uyghur region is a transit and connection road to Central Asia. East Turkestan is at the crossroads of roads connecting the Far East with Europe and Asia, and Siberia with South Asia. This route, through which the Silk Road passed, has served as a cultural and economic bridge between Eastern and Western civilizations and tribes from past to present.

Since this region is far from the sea and surrounded by high mountains and deserts, from a military point of view, it has a "dominant" land position compared to China in general. It is one of the natural bases that gives the advantage of 'attack and defense', which is rare in the world, as it functions as a kind of natural fortress.

East Turkestan is an exit door and a touchstone in China's strategies to establish dominance over Eurasia. Due to its characteristics, East Turkestan is accepted as China's Ukraine in the international relations literature.

In addition to the rich underground resources of East Turkestan, the natural gas and oil reserves found in this region in recent years have also been a factor that has increased the importance of East Turkestan. The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region maintains its strategic position in today's world with its riches such as military defense, security, economic development, oil and natural gas. For the people of the region and China, it is understood that the struggle for influence and interest in the region of the great powers that want to have a say in the future of East Turkestan, which stands out with this new face that promises economic interests and wealth, will not end.

East Turkestan's geostrategic location serves as a "plug" for the Russian Federation when it wants to control China's westward exit.

Likewise, East Turkestan is at a useful point in terms of US policies that implement the strategy of encircling China with its allies in the Far East. It is possible for the US to keep pressure on China from its west and the Russian federation from its east, if it can 'control' this region. Thus, from the perspective of the USA, East Turkestan has a very key position that can serve the bilateral operation of the policy of containment of the world's two great powers. It is also in a unique position to interrupt the strategic rapprochement that could lead to a possible Russian-Chinese alliance.

Today, China has become the most important actor in the global economy. It is an alternative to the USA in the international political equation. It is different from Russia. A Chinese policy, which stays away from “hard power” policies in its relations with other countries, clearly stands out in terms of international relations. Starting from the attitude it exhibited in its opening towards African countries, the world witnesses that China is trying to penetrate any country with the "soft power" elements that Nye pointed out first. This 'soft' face of China towards the outside is open to criticism because of its harsh attitude towards the Uyghur Turks and its domestic policies that cannot produce a solution. It questions the potential of soft power. First of all, a great state with hegemonic potential should strengthen its internal integrity and act with the same political approach both at home and abroad.

It is needed in terms of believability. The situation of "other inside, different outside" causes other countries to display a skeptical stance in their relations and expectations towards China.

It is problematic that a China that has not been able to solve the main problems within its own country, especially East Turkestan, can be a catalyst for global peace. On the other hand, China, which has a global economic power that has become dominant, has reached a position that directs the events on the world agenda in terms of international political economy. Now, China, which has reached a level that competes with the USA in many respects, is expected to play a role as a playmaker in establishing peace in troubled regions such as Afghanistan, with its huge global potential. In fact, we see that the US everywhere needs a Chinese policy and strategy, which, from a historical perspective, is expected to be successful in repairing what the West has 'corrupted', and that international politics needs to be put forward. In this context, we consider that the answer to the question "Can China's "constructive intervention" doctrine be a balm for the pains of the US's global hegemonic policy?

“One Belt One Road” Project in the Context of East Turkestan

China, which is somehow surrounded by the USA and its allies in the Pacific sea; has sought new transportation routes and commercial connection points over land. In this context, it has put the "belt road" project into action by adapting the historical Silk Road to the present day.

China, which wants to implement this project, which was introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013; It aims to establish a transport infrastructure, trade and investment link between the major economies on the Asia-Europe line.

By the concept of Belt (Silk Road Economic Belt), it is meant a whole of land transportation networks consisting of road, railway, oil and gas pipelines and other infrastructure projects starting from Central China and extending to Venice via Moscow, Rotterdam. Within the scope of the project, instead of a single route, transportation corridors consisting of interconnected roads, centers and bridges in the direction of Asia-Europe are foreseen.

With the concept of Road (Maritime Silk Road), it is aimed to construct the seaway networks of the project. Within the scope of the project, integrating the network of ports and other coastal structures in the sea region extending from south and southeast Asia to East Africa and the north of the Mediterranean has been planned.

Claiming to change the future of the global economy and even politics from top to bottom, the 'One Belt One Road (OBOR) Project' has a great potential to shape the next 50 years on a global scale, with its structure including Turkey. This huge-scale project, which includes more than 3 billion people with an investment range of more than $ 1 trillion, directly or indirectly concerns 65 countries. It is evaluated that the project, which will connect the easternmost of Asia and the European shores of the Atlantic Ocean, can lead the global economy to rise far above its current level, with its terrestrial connections and its capacity to integrate into the ports opening to the world's seas.

With the "Belt and Road" project, the geostrategic importance of East Turkestan has once again entered the agenda of international politics and economics. The belt road project, which geographically centers East Turkestan and passes three important routes through this region, is China's; It provides access to the West over land. This project offers the opportunity to reach China, the Russian Federation in its immediate geography, the Turkic states, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and ultimately to European countries and the Middle East.

This region is located at the intersection of China's border neighborhood with many countries. At the same time, the transit route of the energy lines needed by China is East Turkestan. This situation further increases China's sensitivity towards Xinjiang. In this multi-equivalent geography, which contains countless intertwined dynamics, in our opinion, the Uyghur Turks will never be left on their own to draw their own destiny. Many external factors will continue to prevent the Uighurs from re-establishing an independent state on the stage of history.

The underground resources of East Turkestan

In the southern part of China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, in October 2019, it found natural gas reserves of approximately 115 billion cubic meters. In 2020, it was announced by PetroChina that it has 109 billion cubic meters of natural gas reserves. It has been understood that the gas exploration area covers an area of ​​156 square kilometers in the south of the basin, and the found reserve is suitable for the daily extraction of 610 thousand cubic meters of natural gas and 106 thousand cubic meters of crude oil.

In addition, there are rich iron deposits with a total reserve of around 1 billion tons, especially in Turfan, Aksu, Ili and Yeni Hisar regions in East Turkestan. In the surrounding of the province, Altai, Barçöl, Çerçen, Keriev and Urumqi, the rich gold deposits have been discovered.

It is estimated that the Tarim Basin, called the "Sea of ​​Hope", has an oil capacity of 10.7 billion tons. Currently, oil production in East Turkestan constitutes 60% of China's total production, and coal reserves constitute 40% of total reserves. 85% of China's mines are located in East Turkestan. As a result of the latest drillings and discoveries, it has been revealed that East Turkestan has natural resources that will function as China's energy store.

East Turkestan, which constitutes the majority of the Chinese economy, is the main raw material provider for China. The region comes to the fore with its energy resources as well as many precious metals; Of the 148 types of mines mined throughout China, 118 are extracted from the territory of East Turkestan. The energy resources in the region are generally located in three big basins as Cungar Basin, Tarım Basin and Turfan-Dumb Basin.

East Turkestan; With its special geographical location with countries such as Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, it is on an international route that is also of great importance in China's energy imports. The Central Asia-China Natural Gas Pipeline and the Kazakhstan-China Oil Pipeline also pass through the territory of East Turkestan. In recent years, an average of 48 billion cubic meters of natural gas has been imported by China on an annual basis through the Central Asia-China Natural Gas Pipeline, which became operational in December 2009.

Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region; In addition to being very important for China's military security, economic development and geopolitical interests, it is also a strategically important region in terms of energy security and access to energy resources. It can be said that the importance of East Turkestan will continue to increase in terms of sustaining the stable economic development of China, meeting the ever-increasing energy needs and ensuring energy security.

Conclusion

East Turkestan is seen as one of the most important resources for China to maintain its self-sufficient existence. Due to these resources, which are the local providers of oil, natural gas and coal production for the country, the region has strategic importance due to its geopolitical location, as it reduces China's dependence on foreign energy and is also on the transition route of energy resources to be purchased from abroad. This is the gateway to Central Asia. Since East Turkestan is an inseparable part of Central Asia with its geopolitical location, it has been a cause of war for China throughout history.

The problems between the Chinese and the Uyghur Turks, who see themselves as a different ethnic group on the territory of China and claim some rights in order to live in a freer society, still continue today. It is obvious that ensuring the stability and security of East Turkestan will serve the general interest of China. Chinese governments must follow a balanced policy and avoid oppressive policies. The need to address the problem of ethnic division with solutions that embrace the people of the region continues to increase day by day in the Chinese geography.

References That We Use In This Article

Works H. (2021). “China's East Turkistan impasse”, <https://www.doguturkistander.org/2021/09/08/cinin-dogu-turkistan-cikmazi/>, p.e.t.8.9.2021.

Ahmetbeyoglu A. (2011). “The Importance of East Turkistan in Central Asian Chess”, Turk Yurdu, July 2011 - Year 100 - Issue 287, https://www.turkyurdu.com.tr/yazar-yazi.php?id=1558>, set8.9.2021 .

Hanayi O. (2021). “The Importance of East Turkistan in China's Energy Sector”, Akhmet Yassawi University Eurasian Research Institute, <https://www.eurasian-research.org/publication/cinin-enerji-sektorunde-dogu-turkistanin-onemi/?lang= en>, set8.9.2021.

Quantitative Journal. (2018). What is the 'One Belt One Road Project'? Which 65 countries are included in the project?', 12 January, <https://iktibasdergisi.com/2018/01/12/bir-kusak-bir-yol-projesi-nedir-projeye-dahil-olan-65-ulke-hangileri/ >, set8.9.2021.