Welcome to the East Turkistan Government-in-Exile
Established on September 14, 2004, the East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE), officially known as the Government in Exile of the Republic of East Turkistan, is the democratically elected representative body of East Turkistan and its people. Committed to advocating for the rights and interests of East Turkistan, the ETGE is dedicated to the fundamental goal of restoring the independence of East Turkistan as a democratic, pluralistic Republic. This vision includes the assurance of human rights and freedom for all its citizens.
Situated at the heart of Asia, East Turkistan is the historical homeland of the Uyghurs and various other Turkic Central Asian ethnic groups. Since December 22, 1949, it has been under the effective occupation of the People’s Republic of China. Spanning an area of 1,828,418 square kilometers, this extensive landlocked country shares its borders with ten countries: Mongolia (including South Mongolia), Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Tibet, and China, underscoring its geographical and strategic significance.
For over 6,000 years, East Turkistan has been the ancestral homeland of ethnically Turkic peoples, including Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, Tatars, and others. While official Chinese figures put East Turkistan’s population at 25.87 million, independent analyses, taking into account the exclusion of Chinese colonists, military, and government personnel, put the true number over 40 million. Uyghurs are the largest ethnic group, estimated to be over 30 million. This is followed by approximately 3 million Kazakhs, and some 500,000 Kyrgyz and Mongols.
The East Turkistan Issue
China has occupied East Turkistan since late 1949. Beginning in 2014, under the false pretexts of “anti-terrorism” and “anti-separatism,” the Chinese occupation forces have subjected millions of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other Turkic peoples to genocide and crimes against humanity. The situation in East Turkistan is a dire one, characterized by illegal occupation, colonization, and genocide. The fundamental objective of the people of East Turkistan is to restore their independence, which is essential for ensuring their survival and existence.