Loyalty in Conflict:

Exploring
Contending
Loyalties in china
 Contending Loyalties: Muslims in China
The Uyghur conflict in China is a complex issue that
involves contending loyalties. On one hand, there is the
loyalty of the Chinese government to maintain control
over its territory and ensure stability. On the other
hand, there is the loyalty of the Uyghur Muslims to
their religion, culture, and identity.

This conflict arises from the fact that the Chinese

government sees the Uyghur Muslims as a potential
threat to its territorial integrity and national security.
As a result, the government has implemented policies
that restrict the practice of Islam and suppress
Uyghur cultural expression. This has led to tensions
between the Uyghur Muslims and the Chinese
government, as their loyalties are at odds with each
other.

Maizland, September 22, 2022

The History Behind the Uyghur Conflict
The Uyghur conflict is a long-standing issue that dates
back to the early 20th century. The Uyghurs are a
predominantly Muslim ethnic group who have lived in
the Xinjiang region of China for centuries. In the early
1900s, the region was ruled by warlords and was
eventually occupied by the Chinese Communist Party in
1949. This led to tensions between the Uyghurs and
the Chinese government, as the Uyghurs felt their
culture and way of life were being threatened.
The conflict escalated in the 1990s when there was an
increase in violence and protests by the Uyghurs. The
Chinese government responded with a crackdown,
which only further fueled the conflict. Today, the
situation remains tense, with reports of human rights
abuses and discrimination against the Uyghurs
continuing to emerge.
Panzeri, June 4, 2021
Actions Taken by the Chinese Government
The Chinese government has implemented a number of
measures to control and suppress the Uyghur Muslim
population in China. One of the most significant is the
use of surveillance technology, including facial
recognition software and DNA databases, to monitor
and track the movements of Uyghurs.

The government has established a network of

internment camps where Uyghurs are detained without
trial or access to legal representation. These camps
are designed to indoctrinate Uyghurs with Chinese
Communist Party ideology and to force them to
renounce their religious beliefs and cultural heritage.

Parks and Baillie April 6, 2023

 Important Events and People
One significant event related to the Uyghur conflict
is the July 2009 Urumqi riots. The riots were a
result of tensions between Uyghurs and Han Chinese,
resulting in over 197 deaths and 1,700 injuries. The
Chinese government responded with a crackdown on
Uyghur activism and increased surveillance.
Wong, July 5, 2009
Another important figure in the Uyghur conflict is
Rebiya Kadeer, a businesswoman and human rights
activist who was imprisoned by the Chinese
government for her advocacy for Uyghur rights.
Kadeer has since been released and continues to be
an outspoken voice for the Uyghur people.
Hammond, October 25, 2013
 Is the Situation Resolved?

Unfortunately, the conflict between Uyghur

Muslims and the Chinese government is far from
resolved. In fact, it has escalated in recent
years with reports of human rights abuses and
cultural suppression increasing.
The Chinese government continues to implement
policies that challenge the loyalties of Uyghur
Muslims, such as the mass detention of Uyghurs
in internment camps and the forced assimilation
of their culture. While there have been
international efforts to address the issue,
including sanctions and condemnations, the
conflict remains ongoing.
Maizland, September 22, 2022
 Reference slide
Slide 2 - Maizland, Lindsay - China’s Repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang - 2022

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/china-xinjiang-uyghurs-muslims-repression-genocide-human-rights

Slide 3 - Panzeri, Giovanni - The Uyghurs and China: A History of Repression - 2021

https://www.resetdoc.org/story/uyghurs-china-history-repression/

Slide 4 - Parkes, Matthew and Baillie, Lauren - Don’t Look Away from China’s Atrocities Against the Uyghurs - 2023

https://www.usip.org/publications/2023/04/dont-look-away-chinas-atrocities-against-uyghurs

Slide 5 - Wong, Edward - Riots in Western China Amid Ethnic Tension - 2009

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/06/world/asia/06china.html
Hammond, Joseph - Rebiya Kadeer - 2013
https://thediplomat.com/2013/11/rebiya-kadeer/
Slide 6 - Maizland, Lindsay - China’s Repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang - 2022
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/china-xinjiang-uyghurs-muslims-repression-genocide-human-rights