The Impact of China-Central Asia Relations on Xinjiang Uyghur Muslim Riots
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THE IMPACT OF CHINA-CENTRAL ASIA RELATIONS ON XINJIANG UYGHUR MUSLIM RIOTS BY MS QIANLI LIANG A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIALFULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF POLITICAL SCIENCE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FACULTY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE THAMMASAT UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC YEAR 2015 COPYRIGHT OF THAMMASAT UNIVERSITY THE IMPACT OF CHINA-CENTRAL ASIA RELATIONS ON XINJIANG UYGHUR MUSLIM RIOTS BY MS QIANLI LIANG A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF POLITICAL SCIENCE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FACULTY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE THAMMASAT UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC YEAR 2015 COPYRIGHT OF THAMMASAT UNIVERSITY (1) Thesis Title THE IMPACT OF CHINA-CENTRAL ASIA RELATIONS ON XINJIANG UYGHUR MUSLIM RIOTS Author Ms. Qianli Liang Degree Master of Political Science Major Field/Faculty/University International Relations Faculty of Political Science Thammasat University Thesis Advisor Prof. Dr. Jaran Maluleem Academic Years 2015 ABSTRACT Due to the escalation in Xinjiang Uyghur Muslim riots in recent years, the issue of cracking down on the three evil forces: terrorism, separatism, and extremism in China has become a topic of worldwide interest. However, the complexity of the issue urges China not only to care about internal obstacles but also to concentrate on the broad picture, a regional solution to calm the storm. This paper focuses on two key sub-topics. One is exploring the reasons behind the escalating Xinjiang Uyghur Muslim uprisings and the other is to assess whether closer China-Central Asia co-operation has helped ease the tension. Moreover, this research attempts to investigate the additional external players involved in the Uyghur turmoil. The study will employ a qualitative method to analyze the function of Sino-Central Asia relations on combating East Turkestan forces based on an in-depth analysis of primary and secondary data. The analysis and arguments are based on institutionalism of Neo-liberalism to examine the impacts of China's foreign policies toward Central Asia, especially the institute of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), as well as the constructivism theory to analyze the norms and ideas that shape the political attitudes of external players on the Xinjiang issue. This paper argues that in order to prevent the further sprawl of the East Turkestan forces and to maintain regional stability and peace, China will have to (2) continue to work with Central Asian countries in terms of countering the three evil forces through the SCO. Finally, the research will explore the development and challenges that SCO will face and attempts to analyze its impacts on the solution of the Xinjiang Uyghur Muslim riots in the near future. Keywords: China, Central Asia, Uyghur Muslim Riots, Three evil forces, East Turkestan forces, SCO, Institutionalism, Constructivism (3) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am heartily thankful to my adviser, Prof. Dr. Jaran Maluleem, whose encouragement, guidance and support from the beginning to the end enabled me to develop an understanding of the topic. In addition, Asst. Prof. Dr. Sarawut Aree and Asst. Prof. Dr. Wasan Luangprapat from the thesis committee provided me many valued suggestions. Dr. Sarawut Aree also recommended me several books related to the Uyghur Muslim riots in Xinjiang and Chinese foreign policies in Central Asia. Moreover, I really want to give my gratitude to Waraporn Raksorn, who helped me a lot during the process of writing the thesis. Meanwhile, all the staff of the MIR program helped me continuously at the very beginning. I would also like to thank the officials of the organizations and people concerned in China, who were generous in granting me interviews and providing crucial data. Last but not the least, I want to thank Ed. Dr. Phraprommangkalachan, the vice president of Wat Traimit Temple, who sponsored me to study in the MIR program, my family and my boyfriend for cheering and inspiring me. Ms Qianli Liang (4) TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT (1) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (3) LIST OF TABLES (8) LIST OF FIGURES (9) LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS (10) CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background and Significant of the Study 1 1.2 Research Objectives 5 1.3 Research Questions and Hypothesis 5 1.3.1 Research Questions 5 1.3.2 Hypothesis 5 1.4 Theoretical Framework 5 1.4.1 Neo-liberalism 5 1.4.2 Constructivism 6 1.5 Scope of the Study 7 1.6 Research Methodology 8 CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE 9 2.1 Literature on China-Central Asia Relations 9 2.2 Literature on the Origin of Xinjiang Uyghur Muslim Riots 11 (5) 2.2.1 Support from the Soviet Union 11 2.2.2 Nationalists’ Pan-Islamism and Pan-Turkism Propaganda 12 2.2.3 Economic Development Unbalance 13 CHAPTER 3 XINJIANG UYGHUR MUSLIM RIOTS: EAST 15 TURKESTAN 3.1 The Origin and Evolution of Xinjiang Uyghur Muslim Riots 15 3.1.1 Qing Dynasty 15 3.1.2 Kuo Min Tang’s Period 17 3.1.3 People’s Republic of China’s Rule 18 3.2 The Resurgence of Uyghur Muslim Riots Since 1990s 21 3.2.1The Cause of Xinjiang Uyghur Muslim Riots 24 3.2.1.1 Overseas Support 25 3.2.1.2 Pan-Turkism and Pan-Islamism 31 3.2.1.3 Economic Condition 40 3.2.2 New Trend Analysis of Uyghur Muslim Riots 43 3.2.2.1 Range Extension 44 3.2.2.2 Uncertain Targets 44 3.2.2.3 Timing Choice on Key Days 44 3.2.2.4 Internet Boost 45 3.3 Main Terrorist Groups Related to East Turkestan 46 3.3.1 East Turkestan Islamic Movement 46 3.3.2 East Turkestan Liberation Organization 47 3.3.3 World Uyghur Youth Congress 48 3.3.4 East Turkestan Information Center 49 CHAPTER 4 CHINA-CENTRAL ASIA RELATIONS AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION 52 4.1 Overview: Origin and Development 52 (6) 4.1.1 China's Interests in Central Asia 54 4.1.1.1 Geopolitical Interests 55 4.1.1.2 Energy Interests 56 4.1.1.3 Regional Security Interests 57 4.2 Bilateral Relations 58 4.2.1 China-Kazakhstan 58 4.2.2 China-Afghanistan 60 4.2.3 China-Uzbekistan 63 4.2.4 China-Kyrgyzstan 64 4.2.5 China-Tajikistan 65 4.3 Multilateral Relations----Shanghai Cooperation Organization 66 4.3.1 The SCO: Origin and Development 69 4.3.2 The SCO: Current Framework 71 4.3.3 Anti-Terror Cooperation Analysis 76 4.3.4 The SCO: Future and Challenges Analysis 83 4.3.4.1 Internal Structure Contradictions 84 4.3.4.2 External Conditions 85 CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS 89 5.1 Xinjiang Uyghur Muslim Riots 89 5.2 China-Central Asia Relations 91 5.3 Challenges Ahead 95 REFERENCES 96 APPENDICES APPENDIX A Shanghai Cooperation Organization Charter 106 APPENDIX B Xi Jinping Attends SCO Summit in Dushanbe and Delivers 119 Important Speech Stressing Gathering People’s Will and (7) Power and Coordinating Sincerely to Push SCO to the New Level (8) LIST OF TABLES Tables Page 3.1 Uyghur Population Data in Four Prefectures of Southern Xinjiang (2012) 41 3.2 The Sampling Survey on the Per-capita Annual Income at Urban & Rural Residents in Xinjiang and China (2013) (Unit: Yuan) 41 4.1 Agreement on Sino-Kazakhstan Border 59 4.2 The National Conditions of the SCO Member States (2014) 67 4.3 The SCO Heads of States Summit (2001-2015) 72 4.4 Joint Anti-terror Drills within the Framework of the SCO (2002-2014) 81 (9) LIST OF FIGURES Figures Page 4.1 Central Asia, Formerly Part of the Soviet Union 55 4.2 The Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization 71 (10) LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Symbols/Abbreviations Terms CHS (The SCO)Council of Heads of State CHG (The SCO) Council of Heads of Government CNC (The SCO) Council of National Coordinators CPC Communist Party of China ETIC East Turkestan Information Center ETIHP East Turkestan Islamic Hezbollah Party ETIM East Turkestan Islamic Movement ETIOP East Turkestan Islamic Opposition Party ETIRP East Turkestan Islam Reformer Party ETLO East Turkestan Liberation Organization ETNC East Turkestan National Congress ETNIA East Turkestan National Independence Alliance ETPRP East Turkestan People's Revolutionary Party ETR East Turkestan Republic ILP Islamic Liberation Party or Hizbut-Tahrir IMU Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan KMT Kuo Min Tang PRC People's Republic of China RATS (The SCO)Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure SCO Shanghai Cooperation Organization SETP Second East Turkestan Republic TIP Turkistan Islamic Party ULO Uyghur Liberation Organization WUC World Uyghur Congress WUYC World Uyghur Youth Congress WUYL World Uyghur Youth League XUAR Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region 1 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background and Significance of the Study On July 28th, 2014, a violent terrorist attack was conducted by a gang of thugs using axes targeting the Ailixihuzhen local government and police office in Yarkand, in the Kashgar area of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), causing 13 injuries and two Uyghur Muslims and 35 innocent Han people to die. Meanwhile, there were 31 vehicles smashed, including 6 cars burned. Coincidently, that day was the Feast of Breaking the Fast. That’s why critics have considered that it was a deliberate and well-organized action aimed at destabilizing the region, spreading a terrorist atmosphere and inciting ethnic hatred by connecting religion and ethnic issues. Two days later, Jume Tahir, the chief imam of Kashgar's Id Kah Mosque was assassinated by three mobs deeply influenced by religious extremism after he finished Al Fajr (morning call to prayer). Since serious Uyghur Muslim uprisings occurred on July 5th, 2009, leaving about 200 people dead and more than 1,000 injured, according to Chinese government release, there have been an observable continuity of violent attacks on civilians in Kunming, Guangzhou, and Beijing in recent years.