Japan-Xinjiang Relations

 

Summary of Japan-Xinjiang Relations

Xinjiang is a territorially large, but demographically sparse region of China which borders on Central Asia. Uighur Turks have traditionally predominated, but ever larger numbers of Han Chinese colonists now dominate the province politically, economically, and socially. There are still over eight million Uighurs in Xinjiang, making up almost half of the total population. Other Muslims include Kazakhs, Hui, Kyrgyz, Dongxiang, Tajiks, and Uzbeks.

In the 1930s and early 1940s, various circles in Japan presented schemes and ideas about what to do with this region after the anticipated defeat of Nationalist China. The defeat in war brought these projects to an abrupt end.

In more recent times, some Japanese have expressed interest the human rights situation of the Uighurs in particular.

Economic and Trade Relations

The economic links between Japan and Xinjiang Province have been expanding steadily since December 1978, when Xiaoping Deng’s economic liberalization programs began in earnest.

2005 Newsletters

None

2006 Newsletters

367 -- University of Tokyo Fights for an Imprisoned Uighur Graduate Student

2007 Newsletters

526 -- Uighur Independence Activist in Japan
533 -- China Report: Xinjiang
823 -- Uighur Rights Activist Rebiya Kadeer Makes Tokyo Tour

Information for the “Japan-Xinjiang Relations” page was compiled by Michael Penn.