The Uyghur Movement: China's Insurgency in Xinjiang

In 742, a predominantly Turko-Mongolian steppe nomadic tribe known today as the Uyghurs migrated eastward from eastern Turkey towards the oases of modern-day Xinjiang province of China; they have remained there for the last 1,268 years. Throughout this time, this population has endured the hardships of political, economic, cultural, ethnic, and religious persecution ranging from nomadic tribal disputes to unrelenting and brutal aggression from the Chinese government. The purpose of this monograph is to analyze the impact of Chinese persecution on the Uyghur population to determine the potential that Chinese policy provides for Al Qaeda-like terrorist organizations to influence, or establish a foothold within, Xinjiang. By analyzing previous Uyghur uprisings and current Chinese policy using the models of insurgency as prescribed by David Galula and Bard E. O'Neill, the monograph seeks to test the following hypotheses: (1) Chinese persecution of the Uyghur population will create a Uyghur insurgency, and (2) focused persecution is providing the means for establishment of regional ties to external global ideological organizations like Al Qaeda. The monograph concludes that the current U.S. led global war on terrorism has provided China with the requisite freedom to act against the Uyghurs without repercussion and has enabled the emergence of Al Qaeda and its satellite organizations in Central Asia, thereby providing a direct link between this organization and radicalized Uyghur youth.
The original document contains color images.