East Turkistan, located in the heart of Central Asia, shares borders with ten countries. To the east, it is bordered by China, with Mongolia (including Southern Mongolia) to the northeast. The western borders are shared with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, while Afghanistan lies to the southwest. India and Pakistan form the southern boundary, and Tibet is situated to the southeast. Geographically, East Turkistan is segmented into three main basins: The Junggar (Dzungar) Basin in the north, which is separated by the Tengri Tagh (“Tian Shan”) Mountains in the center, the Tarim Basin to the south, and the Kengsu-Dukhan Graben Basin, separated from the Tarim Basin by the Altun Tagh Mountains and the Kumtagh Desert.

Covering an area of 1,828,418 square kilometers (705,956 square miles), East Turkistan’s expanse is over two and a half times the size of Texas in the United States, nearly three times larger than Ukraine, and over five times the size of Germany. If East Turkistan were currently an independent state, free from Chinese occupation, it would rank as the 16th largest country globally, immediately following Sudan and ahead of Libya. East Turkistan extends about 2,100 kilometers (1,305 miles) from east to west and 1,700 kilometers (1,056 miles) from north to south.

The native populace of East Turkistan is primarily composed of Indo-European and Turkic peoples. The Uyghurs constitute the majority, followed by Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and Mongols. Additionally, the country is inhabited by a substantial number of Tajiks, Uzbeks and Tatars. Predominantly Muslim, the majority of East Turkistan’s inhabitants adhere to the Hanafi school of Islamic thought, renowned for its liberal interpretation, The country also harbors smaller minority religious groups, including Buddhists, Christians, and adherents of Tengrism and Shamanistic practices. This diversity reflects East Turkistan’s historical significance as a central hub for Tengrism, Buddhism, and Nestorian Christianity in Central Asia. 

The population and demographics of East Turkistan have been severely altered since the Chinese occupation began in 1949, when Uyghur and other Turkic populations were over 9 million, according to Mao Zedong. Official Chinese statistics from 2020 place the total population at 25.85 million, with Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and Kyrgyz comprising 13.5 million. However, Chinese statistics are considered unreliable due to the Chinese government’s practice of manipulating statistics and inconsistency with historical figures. The East Turkistan Government in Exile, using historical data, contends the true Turkic population likely exceeded 40 million before China’s genocidal campaign in 2014. Historically, Turkic peoples were over 90% of the population prior to 1949, but this demographic has been significantly altered by systematic colonization, genocide, and population control measures.

According to the principles of international law concerning occupation, East Turkistan is unequivocally an occupied country, distinct and separate from the People’s Republic of China. This legal interpretation strongly affirms the country’s unique historical, political, and cultural identity, sharply divergent from that of China. Emphasizing an unwavering stance on sovereignty and independence, this perspective categorically rejects any implication of integration into the Chinese state. In a resolute defense of self-determination and statehood, the status of East Turkistan stands as a bold assertion, demanding recognition and respect for its unequivocal right to independent existence, free from external domination or control.

With a history of over 6,000 years, East Turkistan is marked by enduring civilization and continuous statehood, intermittently interrupted by foreign occupations. This extensive period includes the rise and fall of many local states: Kingdom of Khotan (300 BCE–1006 CE), Hun Empire (220 BCE–216 CE), White Hun Empire [Imperial Hephthalites] (420–565), Kök Turk Khaganate (551–745), Uyghur Khaganate (744–845), Uyghur Idiqut Kingdom (843–1335), Kara-Khanid Khanate (840–1212), Kengsu Uyghur Kingdom (848–1036), Eastern Chagatai Khanate (1347–1462), State of Kashgaria [Mamlakati Kashgar] (1465–1514), Turpan Khanate (1487–1570), Yarkent Khanate (1514–1705), Qumul Khanate (1696–1930), State of Yette Sheher (1864-1877), First East Turkistan Republic (1933-1934), and Second East Turkistan Republic (1944-1949). Each represents a distinct chapter in East Turkistan’s tapestry of independence and sovereignty.

The term ‘East Turkistan’ has historical roots dating back to the 18th century. Notably, in 1730, Swedish officer and geographer Phillip Johann von Strahlenberg used the term ‘Orientalischen Turckestan [Eastern Turkestan]’ in his work titled “Das Nord-und Ostliche Theil von Europa und Asia [The North and Eastern Parts of Europe and Asia].” Furthermore, historical evidence reveals an earlier usage of the toponym ‘Turkistan.’ A Sogdian contract discovered in East Turkistan’s Turpan region from 639 CE employed the toponym ‘Twrkstn [Turkistan]’ to describe the territories of the Kök Türk Khaganate which ruled over Central Asia, including all of East Turkistan.

East Turkistan’s modern history is marked by centuries of foreign occupation. The Manchu Qing Empire invaded in 1756, officially conquering it in 1759. From 1759 to 1863, it was a Qing military colony facing persistent uprisings. East Turkistan briefly regained its independence as the State of Yette Sheher (Kashgaria) in 1864 but faced another Manchu invasion in 1876. In 1884, the Manchu Qing Empire annexed East Turkistan as “Xinjiang” (New Territory). Between 1912 and 1931, East Turkistan was occupied by former Qing officials independently of the Republic of China. From 1931 to 1933, it waged a war of independence, and from 1933 to 1934, it regained its independence as the East Turkistan Republic. Then, from 1934 to 1943, East Turkistan was occupied once more by a Soviet-backed Chinese warlord. In 1944, East Turkistan re-declared its independence as the East Turkistan Republic, fighting against the Republic of China, under the Chinese nationalists (KMT). However, on December 22, 1949, the People’s Republic of China overthrew the independent East Turkistan Republic and occupied East Turkistan

Since its 1949 occupation of East Turkistan, China has implemented a brutal campaign characterized by colonization, assimilation, genocide, massacres, and mass executions, all in an effort to eradicate the Uyghur and other Turkic peoples’ existence, with an intensification since 2014. This includes mass internment, forced labor, sterilization, cultural and religious destruction, language bans, forced abortions, state-sponsored rape, indoctrination of children, and the suppression of Uyghur/Turkic identity and culture.

East Turkistan holds immense strategic importance for China due to its pivotal geographical location, serving as an indispensable gateway to Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and ultimately Europe. It makes up roughly one-fifth of the territories currently under the control of the People’s Republic of China. Economically, East Turkistan is endowed with abundant natural resources, including invaluable reserves of oil, natural gas, coal and rare earth minerals such as uranium, beryllium, and polysilicon. Furthermore, the electrical power generated in East Turkistan empowers over 100 major Chinese cities, sustaining China’s industrial and energy demands. Beyond these factors, East Turkistan stands as the cornerstone of China’s multi-trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at securing global hegemony.

East Turkistan has a rich history of independence, and despite China’s occupation of the country in late 1949, the resilient people of East Turkistan have never abandoned their aspiration to restore East Turkistan’s independence. In recent decades, China has ruthlessly intensified its campaign of colonization, genocide, and occupation in a desperate bid to suppress East Turkistan’s unwavering quest for independence. It is essential to note that China’s National Defense Strategy explicitly prioritizes “preventing the creation of East Turkistan” as one of its top four defense goals. This underscores the determination of East Turkistan’s people to overcome oppression and reclaim their rightful independence.

Individuals and organizations can support the East Turkistan cause by advocating for the political and human rights of its people, raising awareness about the humanitarian crisis, volunteering in ETGE-related initiatives, and providing financial donations. Crucially, they can champion the recognition of East Turkistan as an Occupied Country and advocate for its independence on national and international platforms. Engaging with governments and international bodies to ensure global support for East Turkistan’s independence struggle is vital. By actively participating in these efforts, individuals and organizations can contribute to the ongoing fight for the rights and independence of the East Turkistani people.