[Correspondent Column] The Han (恨) of Xinjiang, China... Repeated Cycles of Subjugation and Independence

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] The Xiongnu were a nomadic people who lived in northern China from the Spring and Autumn period through the Han dynasty. The term Xiongnu refers to these ethnic groups, generally encompassing Turkic nomads who lived on the Mongolian Plateau and in Central Asia. It is said that Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty subdued the Xiongnu, laying the foundation for a unified state, indicating that there were considerable territorial disputes at the time. The Great Wall built by Qin Shi Huang was also constructed to prevent invasions by the Xiongnu and other ethnic groups. This gives us an idea of the extent of territorial conflicts between China and northern ethnic groups in the past.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Following the Xiongnu, the Turkic people known as the Turkic Khaganate appeared on the Mongolian Plateau and in Central Asia. The Turkic Khaganate inhabited this region from the 6th to the 8th century and had poor relations with China. The Turkic Khaganate later split into the Eastern Turkic Khaganate and Western Turkic Khaganate. The Uyghurs succeeded the Turkic Khaganate. The Turkic Uyghurs have a complex history of warfare with China. They established an empire in the 8th century but were subjugated by Genghis Khan in the 13th century. When Kublai conquered China and founded the Yuan dynasty, relations with China continued. The Uyghurs were again brought under control during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing dynasty. When China was ruled by ethnic minorities, the Uyghurs also fell under their influence. Xinjiang, being a gateway to the Western Regions, likely saw significant Chinese efforts to exert influence in this area.

After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, the Xinjiang Uyghur issue emerged as a new variable in international affairs. Xinjiang is an autonomous region in China inhabited by Uyghurs. The original name of Xinjiang, which was once under Soviet control, was the East Turkestan Republic. The Uyghurs declared independence twice, in 1933 and 1949, but were reincorporated into Chinese territory following the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Geographically, Xinjiang is far from the Central Plains, the main base of the Han Chinese in China. The border with Kazakhstan stretches an astonishing 1,700 km, and the border with Kyrgyzstan is 1,100 km long. Xinjiang also borders Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Historically, these peoples are descendants of the Ottoman Turkic Empire.

Their appearance is distinctly different from that of the Chinese. Their religion is even more so. The Uyghurs practice Islam. Considering that the Turkic peoples originated as far back as Lake Baikal, it is believed that they originally practiced shamanism in ancient times. It is presumed that they converted to Islam as they migrated through Central Asia and the Middle East.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

With the Taliban's bloodless entry into Kabul, the possibility of reigniting the Xinjiang independence movement has been raised. The Xinjiang Uyghurs have previously engaged in separatist independence movements. The focal point of the Uyghur separatist movement is the armed terrorist group called the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). ETIM's separatist activities, which began in the 1990s, took the form of terrorism. Early attacks targeted government offices in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Even Tiananmen, a symbol of China, was attacked. Terrorist attacks also occurred in Kunming, Yunnan Province, resulting in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries. Since these attacks targeted civilians, the entire country was engulfed in fear.

Before the withdrawal of U.S. troops, the Chinese leadership invited Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban's second-in-command, to Tianjin and promised economic support. In return, they demanded non-interference in China's internal affairs, including Xinjiang and the Uyghur issue. From the Taliban's perspective, which needs to form a government, there was no reason to refuse China's offer. The Chinese leadership's intention is to secure stability in Xinjiang through the Taliban.

However, the Islamic State (IS), an Islamic armed terrorist group, is still active in Afghanistan. With the completion of the U.S. withdrawal, it is unpredictable where IS activities will spread. Historically, Xinjiang has experienced repeated cycles of subjugation and independence, which deepens the Chinese leadership's concerns.