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China-Japan-Koreas
Turkish PM told to take back Xinjiang genocide remark
2009-07-14
An official Chinese newspaper urged Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday to take back remarks that genocide was being committed in China's Muslim region of Xinjiang, where rioting killed 184 people.
Even if we question the Chinese numbers, about 200 is not quite the same as the entire population. The honourable prime minister is so far out of line he can't see the intersecting planes.
In an editorial headlined "Don't twist facts", the English-language China Daily said the fact 137 of the 184 victims were Han Chinese "speaks volumes for the nature of the event". The newspaper urged Erdogan to "take back his remarks ... which constitute interference in China's internal affairs".
"Interference" is going a bit far, as well. Let's call it a tie.
In comments broadcast live on NTV television last Friday, Erdogan told reporters: "The incidents in China are, simply put, a genocide. There's no point in interpreting this otherwise." He called on Chinese authorities to intervene to prevent more deaths.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told his Turkish counterpart by telephone on Sunday the Urumqi riots were a grave crime orchestrated by the "three evil forces", state news agency Xinhua said, referring to "extremism, separatism and terrorism".

Turkey has sought to boost ties with China, the world's third-biggest economy. President Abdullah Gul last month became the first Turkish president to visit China in 15 years, signing $1.5 billion worth of trade deals, according to Turkish media. Gul also visited Xinjiang during his trip.
Posted by:ryuge

#5  "Erdogan told reporters: 'The incidents in China are, simply put, a genocide. There's no point in interpreting this otherwise.'"

2 million The Armenians could not be reached for comment.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2009-07-14 21:35  

#4  It's not so much genocide as enslavement. The Chinese don't like "foreigners" and don't treat them very well, no matter who they are. What they're trying to do with the Uigurs is to ensure they are second-class citizens under the heel of the (Han) government. They're doing this by simply flooding the area(s) with Han Chinese, who get all the better-paying jobs, better education, and more choices in where and how they live. China HAS engaged in genocide to get rid of "foreigners" in the past, and wouldn't hesitate to do it again. Let's just call this "tempest in a teapot" a draw, and move on. The Chinese will continue to marginalize and victimize the Uigurs, and Turkey will do the same to the Kurds.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2009-07-14 15:18  

#3  Genocide?

"I do not think it means what you think it means." - I. Montoya.
Posted by: Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division   2009-07-14 11:31  

#2  Especially since their usual defense against the Armenian thing is "tu quoque", which seeing as more Han than Uirghur have been reported killed in the rioting, seems like a somewhat-valid response to Erdogan's accusation.

Not that the Prime Minister of Turkey needs to listen to a Chinese propaganda organ, regardless of the merits of the matter.
Posted by: Mitch H.   2009-07-14 09:53  

#1  Well...if this is what the Turkish government sets as the bar for genocide then they'd better be prepared to suck it up for the coming anniversary marking their little binge with the Armenians.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2009-07-14 08:56  

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