"About 300 Chinese said fighting alongside Islamic..." Topic

…State in Middle East.

"About 300 Chinese people are fighting alongside the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, a Chinese state-run newspaper said on Monday, a rare tally that is likely to fuel worry in China that militants pose a threat to security.

China has expressed concern about the rise of Islamic State in the Middle East, nervous about the effect it could have on its Xinjiang region. But it has also shown no sign of wanting to join U.S. efforts to use military force against the group.

Chinese members of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) are traveling to Syria via Turkey to join the Islamic State, also known as IS, the Global Times, a tabloid run by China's ruling Communist Party's official newspaper, the People's Daily, said…"

Full article here
link

Amicalement
Armand

300 out of 1.5 billion. Hmm. I think that the Nooz will leap upon every teensy shred of a story and keep whipping it until it is dead….

They aren't ethnically Chinese (Han) at all, they are ethnic Turkic people called Uighurs (pronounced we-gers) who dwell in Xinjiang province and who have been heavily repressed by the Communist Chinese govt. They want freedom of religion as well as autonomy. So far, the answer from Beijing is to arrest their leaders, shoot protesters and close mosques. There is great unrest in Xinjiang, travel is restricted and armed troops occupy the streets.

Calling them "Chinese" is as welcome as calling Tibetans "Chinese". They consider themselves colonized by Chinese invaders.

The Chinese govt. is very fearful of these "Chinese" fighters in the IS because they may learn how to actually fight and become the cadre for future armed rebellion in Xinjiang. Currently they only have knives to fight against China's military.

When talking about Chinese reaction to religious dissidents (even peaceful groups like Falun Gong), remember that throughout Chinese history, sectarianism has been a stalking horse for anti-government activities. Think the Triads, the Big Knife Society, the Righteous Harmonious Fists Society (Boxers), and the Taipings.

300 Chinamen !!!! All is lost !!!! All is Lost !!!!!!!!!!!!!! We're Doomed !! DOOMED !!!!

Those can be who attack with knifes the civil population and ended after trial hanging from a gallows?

Amicalement
Armand

Sometimes they actually make it to Trial, Armand.

I strongly suspect those 300 Uighurs went to Syria to get training in how to fight as an insurgency. The Chinese are NOT going to be happy with this.

Though it was my understanding that some Uighurs do see themselves as Chinese, just not many.

The Chinese don't call them "Chinese", but Uighurs, they just claim the land as historically part of China.

Thanks for the explanation my friend.

Amicalement
Armand

'The Chinese don't call them "Chinese", but Uighurs, they just claim the land as historically part of China.'

The Chinese don't call them Han, but they sure as heck do call them Chinese. As XinJiang is part of Zhong Guo (China) then, the Chinese reasoning goes, all the people there must be Zhong Guo ren, (Chinese people). Just as all Tibetans must be Chinese too – one of the 56 recognised ethnic groups of China.

I was once held up for over three hours at an internal checkpoint in Tibet because our guide told the Han official in charge that we had 2 Westerners, 3 Chinese and 2 Tibetans in our party.

He threw a real tizzy and said there was no such thing as Tibetans. Tibet was a Province of China and so all Tibetans are Chinese. He sent us outside the post to wait, and wait, and wait before finally letting us through.

I speak Mandarin. The first time I went to Xinjiang was in 1986. I get to meet & sit with the locals, plenty of officials too. Oftentimes, they don't realize I amfluent in Chinese (even some of the dialects). I get to hear what they really say and think.

The Chinese don't consider the Uighurs as Chinese, except when including them as part of greater communist China. (Like part of your 56 recognized groups, nice for propaganda). Otherwise, they aren't considered much at all.

我也会说的普通话。住在中国，上海，乌鲁木齐路。我懂你的说，但是不同意。可能咱们就有perspective不一样。

Of course, with 1.4 billion people, there is more than one attitude in China, just as in Western countries. I get the impression that citizens of red and blue states of the US seem to have different attitudes to who is and isn't an American too.

祝你圣诞节快乐。

I get the impression that citizens of red and blue states of the US seem to have different attitudes to who is and isn't an American too.

That is just an impression reinforced by the media etc. … In the military and generally else where in American society, we're all Americans. With varying opinions, predilection, etc. generally. That is the beauty of freedom of speech, etc. … However, like all societies, groups, etc. you do have the lunatic fringe … And they can be very vocal but very small in numbers …

Been living in Shanghai off and on since the 80's for work, seen lots of changes. Worked on China infrastructure projects for World Bank originally. Worked on projects like Bao Steel, development of Pudong and development of Shenzhen back when they were nothing but farmland.

Never seen any ethnic minority of China with a job outside of service industry, restaurants, labor jobs. Besides the few token members of committees, don't see any in any position of real power. Only Uighurs you see in Shanghai are selling roasted goat skewers on the street.

I saw Xinjiang when it was relatively peaceful, back when all of China was poor, so there wasn't much difference. Then I saw the economic explosion in China, when great wealth was created, and farmers left the countryside to get jobs in the cities. -Except for the Uighurs, who have been excluded from this boom.

The oil & mineral wealth in Xinjiang is controlled by the Han, who control the jobs. Uighurs are excluded from participation, just like the men are excluded from travelling to other provinces to seek jobs in manufacturing.

By using such a heavy hand on the Uighurs and other ethnic minorities, China is only pushing them towards radicalization.

*** "Red and Blue States?" I invite you to travel through the USA (no restricted locations like in China) and then tell us if you can really see any difference between red or blue.

I apologise for the red/blue remark. It was not meant to offend, but as an offhand comment to illustrate that there is likely to be more than one pov in a country of 1.3 billion, just as in a country of 'only' 300 million: urban /rural, north / south splits included, as well as the fact that different individuals can also have different opinions.

You are certainly correct about Uighurs being economically disadvantaged and marginalised, but that does not support an assertion that they are not even regarded as Chinese. Indigenous minorities are typically economically worse off the world over, including in my home country. That does not mean that indigenous minorities are not regarded as 'real' New Zealanders, Australians, Canadians, Americans, etc – at least by most.

All I am saying is that while I agree that the Han see themselves as pretty special, that China is a Han country (which is self-evident), and feel that minorities need to fit in around that, I have never personally heard anyone say the minorities are not Zhongguoren, and indeed have seen Han Chinese officials get pretty upset if anyone suggests otherwise.

I would love to see more of the USA too, rather than just the couple of cities on the coasts which I have visited – and which are pretty jolly impressive in their own right. And I have always taken, 'Y'all need to get out of New York and see the real America.' (to paraphrase) as a friendly invitation rather than a secession document.

I strongly suspect those 300 Uighurs went to Syria to get training in how to fight as an insurgency.

When they come back from Syria each one will train three more.
That graduating class will each train 3 more and so on and so on. It won't take long in the scheme of things!

You may be right, but as Xinjiang borders Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, they don't need to go that far for weapons and training.

The border is by no means secure, and Uighurs refugees from ethnic clashes in Xinjiang have been found as far afield asThailand.

China is already fighting low-level warfare on the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan that is not much different to what is happening to the West.

link

You may be right, but as Xinjiang borders Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, they don't need to go that far for weapons and training.

Can the get combat experience as easily in the 'Stans as they can in Syria?

As easily? I don't know. And it would depend on the type of combat experience you are after I guess, but there is certainly combat going on in the Afghanistan and Pakistan, and someone has enough weapons and training to keep the PLA busy in them thar hills.

I think Syria is the hot new destination for the young Jihadist around town, but it is not the only place they can go to fight and train.