Chinese people in Turkey
Encyclopedia
There is a small community of Chinese people in Turkey, mostly temporary expatriates. A few hundred Chinese students are enrolled in various Turkish universities. Turkey has a sizeable number of Muslim Uyghur people
who hail from the Xinjiang region of China. They have come in large numbers since the early 1950s from the northwestern provinces of China, and as part of their migration to the Middle East, many chose to settle down in urban centres of Turkey. Today, they have effectively associated themselves with the local economy and can be seen practicing in various forms of trade.
The living conditions of the Turkic Uyghurs in China
has often been a source of contention between the two countries, with Turkey protesting the treatment the Chinese mete out to the largest Muslim group in their country. Many Uyghur activists in Turkey are members of seccesionist groups such as Home of the Youth
, which advocate the independence of a Turkestan republic carved from the current Uyghur homeland of Xinjiang
, PRC. These groups have reportedly engaged in various attacks against Chinese nationals and interests based in Turkey.
In 2005, China voiced concerns over such organisations, stating explicitly that Turkey should contain any separatist activities which posed a threat to China and that Turkish security agencies had to better protect the life and property of Chinese citizens in Turkey.
In 2009, the Chinese Foreign Ministry warned its citizens in Turkey "to remain vigilant and ... avoid crowded or sensitive places" after a series of threats were made on Chinese people and facilities.
Uyghur people
The Uyghur are a Turkic ethnic group living in Eastern and Central Asia. Today, Uyghurs live primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China...
who hail from the Xinjiang region of China. They have come in large numbers since the early 1950s from the northwestern provinces of China, and as part of their migration to the Middle East, many chose to settle down in urban centres of Turkey. Today, they have effectively associated themselves with the local economy and can be seen practicing in various forms of trade.
The living conditions of the Turkic Uyghurs in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
has often been a source of contention between the two countries, with Turkey protesting the treatment the Chinese mete out to the largest Muslim group in their country. Many Uyghur activists in Turkey are members of seccesionist groups such as Home of the Youth
Home of the Youth
Home of the Youth, also known as the Xinjiang Hamas, is a militant Uyghur organization operating in Turkey that advocates the creation of an independent Turkestan in Central Asia and Xinjiang, People's Republic of China. The organization's leaders say there are over 2,000 members....
, which advocate the independence of a Turkestan republic carved from the current Uyghur homeland of Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
, PRC. These groups have reportedly engaged in various attacks against Chinese nationals and interests based in Turkey.
In 2005, China voiced concerns over such organisations, stating explicitly that Turkey should contain any separatist activities which posed a threat to China and that Turkish security agencies had to better protect the life and property of Chinese citizens in Turkey.
In 2009, the Chinese Foreign Ministry warned its citizens in Turkey "to remain vigilant and ... avoid crowded or sensitive places" after a series of threats were made on Chinese people and facilities.