Statement regarding China- Central Asia Summit

The International Union of East Turkistan Organizations (IUETO) is gravely concerned about the attendance of Central Asia states at the China- Central Asia Summit which has been taking place between May 18-19 in Xi’an in China.

Central Asia is the heart of Asia and a cradle of civilizations that inspired many societies in the world. Central Asia has historically, culturally, linguistically, and religiously connected with East Turkistan and its people. Whilst Central Asia nations regained their sovereignties due to the split of the Soviet Union, unfortunately, East Turkistan has continuously been an occupied nation. Since China’s forceful invasion of East Turkistan in 1949, Human rights violations in East Turkistan have been one of the gravest issues in the world, and torture, repression, and arbitrary detention have unabatedly continued since the beginning of 2017, the Chinese government has stepped up its colonial repressive policies against Uyghurs and other Turkic people in East Turkistan, imprisoned approximately three million people in concentration camps, where they are being systematically indoctrinated and their language, religious and cultural identity is being erased and homogenized. These crimes have been recognized as an ongoing genocide by international stakeholders.

Parallelly China’s violating international law and breaching international peace by conducting genocide against Uyghurs and other Turkic people in East Turkistan, China has used its increased influence on Central Asia in order to keep silent on its crime. The Chinese investment, trade, energy industry partnership, and belt road initiatives promise developments in Central Asia economically, but it aims definitely to undermine the sovereignty of the Central Asian countries, as we witnessed the same results in some African and Asian regions. The ongoing occupation and worsening genocide in East Turkistan threaten the regional security and independence of Central Asia, as China’s economic, military, and political expansion to the West strategy includes Belt and Road Initiative. Therefore Central Asia states should have the consideration that the national interest, domestic and regional sovereignty, and development of states will be achieved by independent politics, strategies, decisions, and standing against the ongoing genocide towards the people of East Turkistan. Furthermore, Central Asia states have a moral, historical, political, and legal responsibility to hold China accountable for this ongoing genocide in East Turkistan.

Meanwhile, IUETO strongly condemns China’s ongoing genocide policies in East Turkistan, IUETO calls on Central Asia states to stand up for the rights of the people of East Turkistan and realize their responsibilities under the 1948 UN Genocide Convention and take all necessary measures to end the ongoing genocide in East Turkistan. IUETO calls on Central Asia states to uphold legal and moral obligations towards the people of East Turkistan to ensure accountability for alleged violations of international law and assure pressure on China to end its occupation of East Turkistan.

With high respect:

International Union of East Turkistan Organizations

19/05/2023