Xinjiang, as the ancestral territory of the Uyghur ethnic minority, has increasingly become central to global discourses on geopolitical strategy, ideological divergence, and the evolving architecture
Uyghur is a minority ethnic who live in Xinjiang since over more 2000 years ago or around 300 Before Christ (BC), Uyghur has gained international attention in recent years. Starting from discrepancy in ideology, religion, and interest among China’s Government and Uyghur, it’s turned into human rights violations and global geopolitical tensions. Not only China, many countries are involved directly or indirectly in the complexity of the Uyghur issues in Xinjiang. The issues are often linked with the Uyghur issue including Human Rights, Trade, Ideological War, Refugee, Illegal Migrant, or even Transnational Crime. In the last few years, international community is increasingly focusing and discussing pertaining to the Uyghur issue.
China’s treatment of the Uyghurs has sparked international outrage and condemnation, China has been accused of committing serious human rights violations against Uyghur ethnic group. China has enforced several repressive policies towards Uyghur ethnic group i.a. detention camps, restrictions on religion practices and freedom, sexual violence against Uyghur women, cultural erasure, as well as discrimination treatment of workers and children. Anticipation of radicalism, terrorism, and separatism in Xinjiang is the reason why China takes those repressive policies against Uyghur ethnic group. China considers that the policies that have been imposed as an endeavor to maintain the country’s sovereignty and security.
Furthermore, regarding China’s repressive policy. The international community gave a diverse response, some support and some criticize those policies. Western countries such as United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), and Canada have taken a firm stance against China in response to human rights violations against the Uyghur ethnic group in Xinjiang. The sanction that has been imposed by these countries including asset freezes and travel bans towards senior official in Xinjiang who have been involved of serious human right violations against Uyghur ethnic group. Moreover, the US has also blacklisted Chinese companies and organizations for their involvement in harshness against the Uyghur ethnic group.
The United Nations that has been a central player in multilateral cooperation pertaining to the Uyghur issue, considered not optimal in response to the serious human rights violations against the Uyghur ethnic group in Xinjiang. There is no adopted resolution regarding to this issue until now. However, United Nations has also taken efforts to encourage a discussion and continue to monitor and investigate the issue. Several UN agencies are involved in response to the issue including The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), etc.
Responding to the information regarding to a global geopolitical complexity in the Uyghur issue, this research will explore the global interest towards this issue in more detail by following contemporary information about the issue. It is expected to provide a comprehensive study, and could enhance global attention on the Uyghur Issue.
The Complexity of Global Interests and Morals
Xinjiang is a home for Uyghur peoples, Xinjiang has become the center of an intricate web of geopolitical interests, ideological contests, and human right debates. With its strategic location, demographic composition, and role in China’s global ambitions particularly through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have elevated it from a remote periphery to a core geopolitical pressure point. China has expanded Xinjiang to be a placed for Multinational trades and become a testing ground for China’s advanced surveillance technologies. Xinjiang provided China’s economic power and stability, that’s why China will not Xinjiang to be controlled by ethnic minorities or others.
China’s repressive policies towards the Uyghur ethnic group is indeed a mistake, it is a violation of human rights. However, those policies are often used to attack and overthrow China as a country that has world economic power, as has been done by western countries like United States and European Countries. The Uyghur issue always be raised by those countries in several international forums and meetings, in order to China got a sanction from PBB or all of the countries in the world. In addition, United States doesn’t really care about the issue of human rights violations in Xinjiang that have been faced by the Uyghur ethnic group. In fact, the Unites States only wants to balance China’s economic power, the United States would also like to cut off China’s BRI. Because, China’s BRI has weakened US diplomatic relations with several countries in the world, including the US allied countries.
Nonetheless, China also looks hypocritical pertaining to the Uyghur issue. China has played as a victim who tried to counter separatism and radicalism group, China has told that the policies towards the Uyghur ethnic group is not a human right violation, it’s to protect China’s sovereignty. Actually, most of the Uyghur ethnic group has tried to build peace with China’s Government by accepting China’s terms and conditions for the Uyghur ethnic group. But, China’s Government continuously do the repressive policies towards the Uyghur ethnic group. China’s seems unwilling to give a chance for the Uyghur ethnic group in every way, because China will not let the strategic area that become a key of China’s BRI controlled by the minority ethnic. China is worried that there will be separatism repetition in Xinjiang, it will give the bad impacts for China’s economic.
Countries that have involved with China’s economic relations are tend to choose silent in responding the Uyghur issues in Xinjiang, they choose to maintain good relations between their country and China. They tend to avoid a discussion of Uyghur issues in several international forums or meetings. Those countries usually have quite depended on China’s economic and trade relations e.g. ASEAN Member Countries and OIC Member Countries. They don’t want to damage the good relations with China, because it will give the bad impact especially in the country’s economic activities, as we know that China has taken control of the world economy.
The United Nations is also very circumspect in responding the Uyghur issues,
Because, China is one of the biggest financial contributors for the UN budget. China also has great political influence in the UN. Although the UN is an Independent Organization, but the China’s role must also be considered. Therefore, The UN response in the human rights violation towards Uyghur in Xinjiang looks very slow. Because, the UN takes China into consideration and tries to remain as Independent Organization. The Uyghur issue become a challenge for several organizations and countries in the world, because they have to face the super power that controlled the world economy.
Conclusion
Addressing the Uyghur issues is become a challenge for the countries and several international organizations in the world, because this is a sensitive issue. This issue involves the sovereignty of a country and the economic fate of the countries in the world, China holds control over the world economy. In light of this, the countries and several international organizations in the world has tend to choose silent and avoid the discussion about the Uyghur issues, because it will give the bad impacts for their economic. Except the US, US would like to cut off and stop the China’s influence in the world. Because, the US would like to take back control of the world, both economically and politically.
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