Separatism And The War On Terror In China’s Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region
COTIPSO Thesis: Approved
Student: Giglio, Davide
Completion Date: Jan 2004
An excerpt from the thesis:
Terrorism has emerged as a major security threat for China and a national defense priority for the People’s Republic of China as indicated in its Defense White Papers. China's Defense 2000 White Paper had made only sparse and general references to terrorism. The document "China's National Defense in 2002", instead devoted an entire section to the terror threat. The report identified terrorism as a top ranking security issue, specifically pointing to the restive Western Xinjiang region, where separatists want to create an independent "East Turkistan". In portraying China too, as a victim of terrorism, the White Paper said that "The 'East Turkistan' terrorist forces are a serious threat to the security of the lives and property of the people of all China's ethnic groups."
