Uighur terror rocks Sino-Pak alliance, but will not wreck it

2012-03-12

Analysis by Martin Sieff

Ethnic Uighur demonstrators hold a defaced poster of China Vice President Xi Jinping and shout slogans during a protest in Ankara, Turkey, on February 21, 2012. [Reuters]

China is expressing publicly its growing anger over alleged support from Pakistani-based terror organizations for Uighur militants. The issue is an important and complex one.

But while it is highly embarrassing for both Beijing and Islamabad, it looks unlikely to threaten their strategic cooperation.

On the other hand, the row exposes once again the tenuous hold the central government in Pakistan has over extreme Islamist groups operating within its borders, often with the support of elements of Pakistan’s own armed forces.

Pakistan officials have previously admitted that the terror separatists operating in the Uighur region have ties with the Taliban movement in Pakistan and with other militants operating on the borders of Afghanistan.

On March 7, Bekri, the governor of the Uighur Autonomous Region in China’s northwestern Xinjiang province, claimed some Uighur militants are being supported by Pakistan-based terror groups. He made his comments in the high-profile framework of the 2,270-delegate 18th annual National People’s Congress [NPC] of the ruling Chinese Communist Party in Beijing.

Bekri, a Uighur himself, is regarded a rising star of the “sixth generation” of emerging Chinese national leaders. His comments on this issue appear in part to be a signal of solidarity to the Chinese people, as well as to Uighur Muslim separatists.

Xi expected to maintain hard line on security

The message is, that the new leadership cadre expected to emerge when Vice President Xi Jinping becomes leader of China over the next two years will maintain a tough, uncompromising line on the security and territorial integrity of Xinjiang.

“We definitely won't allow anyone to use an excuse to oppose the leadership of the party and socialist system. We definitely won't allow any development to destroy the unity of our country and upset social stability,” Bekri said.

“We will give protection to the legal activities and stem crimes so as to create a stable environment for Xinjiang’s development.”

Beijing authorities believe the violent Uighur separatists are organized by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement [ETIM]. The Chinese government believes ETIM has significant links to al- Qaeda and other extreme Islamist terror groups.

"We have certainly discovered that East Turkestan activists and terrorists in our neighboring states have a thousand and one links," Bekri said on March 7 while attending the NPC gathering in Beijing.

"But officials, especially in Pakistan, have said over and over again they oppose any violent activities directed against China and will maintain China's national sovereignty and core interests," Bekri said. “China and Pakistan are indeed all-weather friends. This is the basis founded by the previous generations of leaders.”

Anti-Uighur message draws support

Bekri was not the only senior Xinjiang official to send that message. He was carefully supported by Zhang Chunxian, the Communist Party secretary, or leader of Xinjiang. Zhang, who was also attending the NPC, warned the same day that any terrorists caught in the Uighur region would be denied any mercy. He said the government of China would not permit terrorists to threaten women, children and other innocent people with knives.

Zhang echoed Bekri’s claim that many of the terror attacks in the Uighur region over the past year had what he called an international origin.

The government of Pakistan clearly found the relatively tough talk from the strongest ally embarrassing and it appears to have come as a surprise to Islamabad. Initially at least, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesmen refused comment on the report. The official position of Pakistan remains that it backs China in its struggle to suppress ETIM.

The warnings of Bekri and Zhang are not unprecedented. In August 2011 the city government of Kashgar in western Xinjiang issued a statement claiming that terror suspects in the area believed responsible for attacks in July 2011 had been given training, weapons and explosives in mujahedeen terror camps in neighboring Pakistan.

However, the comments by Bekri and Zhang suggest that the Chinese government was unhappy with the lack effective action or cooperation with Pakistan. It has since cracked down on the flow of trained terrorists and weapons and other supplies across the border to ETIM. The latest comments were deliberately made by national leaders gathered in Beijing for the main political gathering of the year.

Pakistan-China alliance focused on India

Pakistan has for decades been China’s main strategic ally to contain India. Indeed, Pakistan’s nuclear-armed ballistic missiles are believed to have far greater accuracy and reliability than India’s because China effectively supplied them to Islamabad.

China also enjoys excellent relations with Muslim nations in general, and with Iran in particular.

Also, Russia, China’s partner in leading the Shanghai Cooperation Organization [SCO], the grouping to maintain stability and strategic security among its partners across the heart of Asia, has been working to improve its own relations with Pakistan. The Russians would like to see both Pakistan and India join as full members of the SCO, where they both hold observer status. China is moving towards full membership for Pakistan, but continues to block rapid Indian entry.

Chinese leaders clearly want Pakistan to toughen up its actions against support for ETIM and other terror groups operating in Xinjiang. But they also clearly want to calibrate their actions and avoid sending any message that might seriously strain their longstanding ties to Islamabad.

Thus, on March 7, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin sang the praises of Pakistan as a leading nation in the international struggle to contain and defeat terrorist groups.

"Pakistan is at the forefront of the international campaign against terrorism and has sacrificed a lot," Liu told reporters. "We believe the international community should speak highly of Pakistan's efforts in fighting terrorism."

Chinese Communist party leaders recognize that it is important to show a united front against the recent spike of attacks in the Uighur region as they start the process of transitioning to the new era of leadership under Xi. He visited the United States on a highly successful trip in February.

The week before Bekri and Zhang made their strongly worded comments, some 13 people were stabbed to death in Yecheng region close to China’s Xinjiang border with Pakistan. Another seven of the terrorists were shot dead by Chinese security forces.

But there is no question that China is determined to re-establish peace security in the Uighur region and all across Xinjiang. The vast province covers one sixth the total territory of the country and contains rich oil and natural gas reserves. It is also the crucial link region with Central Asia and the Caspian Basin, with its oil, natural gas and uranium resources.

The massive and growing immigration of ethnic Han Chinese into the Uighur region has generated ethnic tensions in recent years. Violent clashes between the two communities in 2009 cost almost 200 lives.

Massive Han Chinese immigration has turned the Muslim Uighurs into a minority in their own historic homeland. They now comprise 40 percent of the 21 million people there.

However, Uighur separatists are by no means united. In addition to ETIM, which wants to create a unified Caliphate of all Muslims around the world, other groups are motivated by Pan-Turanianism – a Pan-Turk idea to unify all the Turkic peoples of Asia. Or they are driven by ethnic nationalism to create a separate “Uighuristan” state.

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Reader Comments

msh on 21/09/2012 at 11:26PM

The splinter groups of extremists and terrorists should be resolutely cracked down. A peaceful Xinjiang is the result of the forceful attitudes of Vice President Xi Jinping with backup of the whole nation. The Chinese government should never show any mercy to the separatists. The preferential policies to ethnic minority groups should be changed to achieve equity among all citizens. Miss Chairman Mao very much. In China, I only know Chairman Mao, and in Xinjiang, I only know General Wang Zhen. When will a man like him appear again to lead China???

苏晓 on 06/09/2012 at 02:26AM

We must stay alert to not only East Turkestan Islamic terrorist organization but also the Christianity and Catholicism promoted by the US in China for years. Two hundred years ago, under the guise of a “sacred mission” to end the suffering of their Indian brothers and sisters, Britishers with their bibles induced the Indians of North America to lower their heads to pray and sing hymns to God. However, when the Indians looked up, they already lost their homelands. Be alert, the Chinese people. It is really amazing if we are good at our own traditional Chinese culture!

liwei on 03/09/2012 at 07:42AM

At an uncertain time, as communist party members, we should support the decisions made by the Party and state leaders, and I hope we can solve the territory disputes successfully.

楼允刚 on 30/08/2012 at 07:04AM

When the governments were established in Western Regions in Han Dynasty, there was no Uygur ethnic group at all.

正道夫 on 29/08/2012 at 01:37AM

The attitudes of Xinjiang are the strong attitudes of our Vice President Xi Jinping! We strongly support Vice President Xi with the back of the whole country!!!

张杰 on 27/08/2012 at 03:19AM

When in corner, we Chinese will do some earthshaking things.

帅哥黄 on 27/08/2012 at 03:03AM

Any group trying to split China should be cracked down.

新疆汉人 on 24/08/2012 at 05:15AM

In China I only know Chairman Mao and in Xinjiang I only know General Wang Zhen.

海岩 on 24/08/2012 at 01:12AM

As for the issue of the Diaoyu Island, the People’s Liberation Army is useless, especially the Chinese navy! The 2nd Artillery Corps should play a role and it is time to abandon the policy of peaceful development. Backwardness leaves us vulnerable to attack. We can consider economic sanctions against Japan! Use our economic power!60%!

雅俗清君 on 21/08/2012 at 09:05PM

The extremely terrorist groups should be eliminated thoroughly.

道。朱门略 on 20/08/2012 at 08:46AM

Why can the attacks be successful? It is because of the deficiency of the government credibility, which should be improved to enhance the relationship between the army and the people.

蒋金生 on 19/08/2012 at 02:58AM

An incisive analysis…We should prevent trouble before it happens…

赵福军 on 18/08/2012 at 06:59PM

All the terrorist groups trying to split the country and to undermine national unity should be cracked down.

侯泽山 on 15/08/2012 at 01:48AM

Splittists are only a few people, accounting for less than one hundred thousandth of Uyghurs. What we should do is only severe punishment in accordance with laws and regulations. Uyghur compatriots are also unwilling to split our country.

sun_newlong on 14/08/2012 at 12:14AM

We must crack down on splittists as early as possible and punish them severely. We would never allow our country to split. It is government agency’s authority stipulated by the constitutional law. If our country is split, that would be a great misfortune for all　ethnic groups.

Andrew on 13/08/2012 at 02:47PM

I cannot believe the comments here: "Separatists", "terrorists", "Islamic extremists", etc. are the epitaphs of Uyghurs. No one acknowledges the fact that China invaded their homeland, put them under massive oppression, and lately deprived them of economic opportunities it affords to Han. Do not look elsewhere for the cause of unrest, look at the mirror China!

杨道源 on 13/08/2012 at 06:27AM

You can rest assured that East Turkistan terrorists are incapable of stirring up big troubles, because the Chinese are excellent in civil war rather than external aggression. As for East Turkistan terrorists, we must kill all potential terrorists rather than being softhearted.

钟成松 on 12/08/2012 at 04:07AM

Initiate a local war featuring clearly-defined target and intense and stable attack to improve national cohesion.

林先明 on 11/08/2012 at 04:59PM

Al-Qaeda and all pro-Al-Qaeda organizations and groups and even countries are just the US’ free-ranging lackeys and co-conspirators abroad. We must not be fussy about them. Today’s situation is just a result of the failure of some poor-quality and well-bred descendants of our founding fathers. Whether a country is governed by dictator, political party or emperor, it is the same for grass roots (I don’t want to use “common people” here). The Gaddafi family and other families in Syria are definitely losers, as they with both military and political power showed poor governance. Idiots.

大头 on 10/08/2012 at 08:45PM

Although the proportion is 40%, they think it is too few. Xinjiang has more than ten ethnic groups and the proportion of Uyghurs today has grown significantly than in the past. Xinjiang is not home to merely Uyghurs and it is also home to the Han Chinese, Khazaks, Mongolians, the Huis, Uzbeks, Kyrghis and Tajiks.

buxuhua on 10/08/2012 at 12:08PM

We should insist on issues involved in safeguarding territorial integrity without hesitation. Start the new class struggle in Xinjiang and let everyone be on guard.

李正大十 on 09/08/2012 at 08:30AM

The Chinese government should enhance education on ethnic history in Xinjiang. The ethnic origins of Uyghurs and Turks are different. Uyghurs are descendants of the Dingling Yuanhe tribe. Most nomadic people of another five tribes of Dingling become members of the Han ethnic group. For example, the Han people with surname of Zhai are descendants of the Dingling Di tribe. Before moving to Xinjiang, Uyghurs are definitely of the yellow race. Turkic-speaking ethnic group are descendants of Suo Tribal State. Jigasi and Turks have a common ancestor. As Jigasi is of the white race, Turkic ethnic group must be of the white race too. Uyghurs and Turks are not the same ethnic group. In ancient times, there was a feud between Uyghurs and Turkic people, as 5,000 Uyghur cavalrymen defeated 100,000 East Turkistan cavalrymen and Uyghurs joined hands with the Han force to defeat Western Turks. Most of Turkish people are descendants of Western Turks. Xinjiang has been an important part of China since the first century B.C and there were already Chinese troops in Xinjiang. Following being defeated by Nayman in Mongolian plateau in A.D. 840, Uyghurs moved towards west. Most of Uyghurs moved to Central Asia, while a few people moved to Xinjiang. Uyghurs moving to Xinjiang have lived within the borders of Chinese territory. As Han people are the first batch of inhabitants in Xinjiang and Uyghurs are immigrants, it is incorrect to say that Han people invaded Uyghurs’ domain.

打阿三 on 08/08/2012 at 01:16PM

The Chinese government should not show any leniency to splittists and should change the preferential policies for the ethnic minorities to achieve the equality of all citizens. Join the QQ group: 247249504.

张超 on 07/08/2012 at 07:52AM

As for the splittism issue, China should not take external wordiness seriously. The only solution is always a life-or-death struggle.

卫东 on 07/08/2012 at 04:58AM

It is time for China to give up unrealistic fantasies of peaceful development! All talk and no action is useless. The world is always dominated by the law of the jungle. Survival is everything. For this reason, peace will not be achieved by China unilaterally. The Chinese government should take military action when necessary. Dating back to 1958, at the behest of Chairman Mao, the People's Liberation Army forces began an intense artillery bombardment against Jinmen in west Taiwan Strait, frightening off all the powerful naval vessels. In face of external provocation, our efforts in merely verbally claiming to want peace rather than resorting to military action are null and hostile forces will not stop teasing, riling, irritating, provoking and annoying us! In addition, external hostile forces also provocate our internal dissidents to foment domestic unrest. In a word, military action is necessary. Go ahead! My country! All the issues, whether it is East China Sea or South China Sea; South Xinjiang or West Xinjiang, we should use fists to defend our sovereignty.

999999 on 05/08/2012 at 04:38AM

Even after Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan, Pakistan opens the supply lines for U.S.-led NATO troops.

军人 on 01/08/2012 at 08:22PM

Meanwhile, the Chinese people should have awareness of ethnic solidarity and stand united against external threat. Only Chinese people will stand out at critical moment.

李胖子 on 29/07/2012 at 11:31PM

All peoples should be united because of the unstable international community. We Chinese should find the weak points of the international terrorists to combat terrorism. Killing or capturing leaders of terrorist groups can effectively help eliminate terrorism.

wy008 on 28/07/2012 at 08:21AM

I agree with the comment that "Do not be afraid of losing friends. When you talk about friendship too much, the others will look down upon you and the separatists will be used against you." We should ask Pakistan to take necessary actions or there will be no peace in Xinjiang.

尧子 on 26/07/2012 at 05:49AM

Terrorism is the most important factor that threatens world peace. The whole should unit and fight terrorism. China, one of the five powers in the world, should take its responsibility to fight terrorism and safeguard world peace.

钟祖耀 on 26/07/2012 at 03:47AM

The real Xinjianger should know that these ethnic separatists dare to rise up just because the Long Shujin treated them too kind, which caused the current situation. We really should miss General Wang Zhen. During the Cultural Revolution, Wang Zhen tried to maintain stability in Xinjiang without giving any thought to his own safety. We still remember his speech in the meeting in Urumqi. Deputy Chairman Xi Jinping is great and we all support you!

pine on 25/07/2012 at 06:15AM

We should now learn from the Americans because the Americans have leaned and used The Art of War from China and Mao Zedong’s tactics to conquer the whole world. It is no hope in China as there are so many corrupt officials, even without the cunning Americans.

老民兵 on 22/07/2012 at 09:00AM

We must vigorously pursue and fiercely attack three separatist groups based in neighboring countries. When necessary, we should learn from the USA and Russia to combat separatists across borders. We should use our power when necessary and do not be afraid of losing friends. When you talk about friendship too much, the others will look down upon you and the separatists will be used against you.

幸福人家 on 20/07/2012 at 06:09AM

The separatists must be suppressed to maintain national stability and to meet the need of people’s wellbeing.

金秋 on 18/07/2012 at 05:36AM

We must give an emphatic defeat to all the ethnic seperationists and terrorists without mercy to guarantee the unification of the country and to safeguard the peacefully living of the people.

王强硬 on 17/07/2012 at 08:22PM

Miss Chairman Mao very much. When will a man like him appear again to lead China???

文中 on 16/07/2012 at 09:05PM

Lol, it is the Americans who play the tricks. The Pakistanis are unable even to fend for themselves and will not play a role in this issue. When necessary, it can close the border in order to strike the enemies.

朱现伟 on 04/07/2012 at 09:04AM

The shameless East Turkistan Islam Organization should be eliminated as soon as possible.

王天马 on 03/07/2012 at 12:39AM

Never let them target the weapons to the innocent women and children.

灭突厥 on 02/07/2012 at 09:47AM

We should eliminate the shameless bad guys of East Turkistan Islam Organization.

田田 on 20/06/2012 at 05:13AM

Just extinguish this gang, the shameless not united East Turkistan Islam Organization.