Home | East Turkistan Government in Exile

MUST READ

Press Releases and Statements

ICC Assembly of State Parties Side Event Calls for Investigation into China’s Ongoing Genocide in East Turkistan

ETGE December 6, 2023

Uyghurs Confront China’s Hypocrisy at UN, Demand Global Action for East Turkistan

November 29, 2023 Press Releases

Historic 9th East Turkistan General Assembly Successfully Concludes in Washington DC

November 13, 2023 Press Releases

Declaration from the 9th East Turkistan General Assembly

November 12, 2023 Statements

Welcome to the East Turkistan Government-in-Exile

Established in 2004, the Government in Exile of the Republic of East Turkistan, also known as the East Turkistan Government-in-Exile (ETGE), is the democratically elected official body representing the interests of East Turkistan and its people. The ETGE seeks to restore East Turkistan’s independence as a democratic and pluralistic Republic that guarantees human rights and freedom for all.

The Location of East Turkistan

East Turkistan, located in the heart of Asia, is the historical Homeland of the Uyghurs and other Turkic Central Asian peoples. China has effectively occupied East Turkistan since December 22, 1949. With a size of 1.828.418 square kilometers, East Turkistan is a vast land-locked country which neighbors the following ten countries: Mongolia (including South Mongolia), Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Tibet and China.

The People of East Turkistan

For over 6,000 years, East Turkistan has been home to ethnically Turkic peoples, including Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, Tatars, and others. Although Chinese sources put East Turkistan’s population at 25 million, East Turkistan’s total population (excluding Chinese forces) is estimated to be over 40 million. Uyghurs make up the majority of the, numbering around 30 million according to some experts, followed by 3 million Kazakhs and 500,000 Kyrgyz and Mongols.

The East Turkistan Issue

China has occupied East Turkistan since late 1949. Since 2014, the Chinese occupation forces have sent millions of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and other Turkic peoples to concentration camps, prisons, and labor camps under the guise of “vocational training” “re-education.” The East Turkistan issue is an issue of illegal occupation, colonization, and genocide. Restoring East Turkistan’s independence is the fundamental goal of East Turkistan’s people.

East Turkistan Representations

The East Turkistan Government in Exile has representatives in over a dozen countries worldwide, with official representation offices ( de-facto embassies) in Washington DC, Brussels, and Edmonton.