Say East Turkistan, Not “Xinjiang”
Geography
East Turkistan refers to the area surrounding the Tarim Basin and encompassing the Tianshan Mountains to its North. In contrast to West Turkistan, which accounts for the current republics of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
History of the region
For millennia, the land has been the home of Turkic peoples including Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Tatars as well as non-Turkic peoples like Tajiks. Bordering 8 different nations and being a major stop along the Silk Road, the region has been influenced by cultures from all over Asia.
Origins of “Turkistan”
The word “Turkistan” is a Persian term that translates to “Land Of The Turks”, it was traditionally used alongside the other names which Turkic peoples of Asia identified themselves with. However, in the late 18th & 19th centuries Russian and Chinese annexation of land in Turkistan would result in new names given by their imperialist captors. Western Turkistan would be split up into different Russian assigned ethnic groups in order to break Turkic unity. Meanwhile, East Turkistan would be referred to as “New Territory” or ‘Xinjiang’ in Mandarin. Furthermore, in the years 1933 and 1944-49, two independent republics would be formed in this area using the name of East Turkistan to identify themselves.
Why is it important to refer to “Xinjiang” as East Turkistan?
East Turkistan is a term that encompasses a diverse multiethnic area with an area greater than 1.8 million square kilometers. The name represents the true cultural history of the land as well as the resistance of the Uyghur and other Turkic peoples to China’s tyranny. ‘Xinjiang’ is a term forced upon by the Chinese colonizers in an effort to further assimilate and eradicate the heritage of the Uyghur people. The word ‘Xinjiang’ which means “New Territory” or “New Frontier” in Mandarin is a direct reminder of the illegal occupation of the land by China. Thus, East Turkistan is a more accurate term since it refers to the pre-occupied land which the Uyghurs and other ethnic groups inhabited.
References
https://www.britannica.com/place/Turkistan
