Turkey reviews defense agreements with China after crackdown on Uighurs in Xinjiang
ANKARA — Turkey government has come under internal political pressure to suspend defense relations
with China.
Turkish government sources said Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has
received appeals from Islamist parliamentarians to suspend defense projects
with China. The sources said many members of the ruling Justice and
Development Party have been angered by China's crackdown on Uighur Muslims.
"Nothing has been affected yet, but there is a threat that Erdogan will
have to respond to the Chinese crackdown," a government source said.
The sources said Turkey has been closely monitoring the Chinese
crackdown on Uighurs in the Xinjiang. Uighurs speak a Turkish dialect and
have been supported by Islamic associations linked to Erdogan's party.
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Erdogan has condemned Beijing's crackdown in Xinjiang, in which about
200 people have been killed, Middle East Newsline reported. On July 9, Erdogan termed operations by Chinese
security forces "almost a genocide."
So far, a senior Turkish official, Industry Minister Nihat Ergun, has
called for a Turkish boycott of Chinese products. But Ankara has not taken
any action.
Ankara has kept its defense relations with Beijing under wraps. The two
countries have cooperated in the development of a surface-to-surface rocket
and were said to be discussing other projects.
"If you cannot take certain risks and afford strained relations with
China and choose to remain inactive, then this will not correspond to your
vision of a big state," former Turkish Diaspora Affairs Minister Ahat
Andican said.