Featured Image: A demonstrator wears a mask painted with the colours of the flag of East Turkestan
during a protest by supporters of the Uyghur minority in Istanbul on April 1. Credits: AFP
A major diplomatic row has erupted between Turkey and China after two Turkish politicians criticised Beijing’s treatment of its Muslim Uyghur minority in the province of Xinjiang. Immediately after the comments made by the two Turkish politicians became known, the Chinese Embassy suggested on Twitter that it could take action against two Turkish politicians who criticised Beijing’s treatment of its Muslim Uyghur community.
The mistreatment and the genocidal activities perpetrated against the Uyghurs is a very sensitive political and diplomatic issue for Beijing.
The Twitter spat led to Turkey’s Ankara Municipality on Wednesday (7 April) stopping the water supply to the Chinese embassy in the city, as the embassy’s tweet was widely interpreted as a threat and caused social media outrage in Turkey.
As per reports, the Chinese Embassy tagged Meral Aksener, the head of the opposition Good Party, and Ankara’s mayor, Mansur Yavas, in two Twitter posts in which it defended Beijing’s policies and made it very clear that China reserves its right to a rightful response, reports The New Indian Express.
“The Chinese side resolutely opposes and strongly condemns any challenge by any person or power to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the embassy said.
Uyghurs are of Turkic ethnicity and are a native to China’s Xinjiang region. Over the years, many sought refuge in Turkey because of their shared cultural ties. However, in the last few years, Turkey has become quite silent on the plight of Uyghur Muslims in China due to strong economic ties between the two countries.
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.