Xinjiang | شىنجاڭ‎,| 新疆 - Forming National Identity

About a year ago when I was traveling around China, I went to Xinjiang. Before embarking on my trip many of my Chinese friends in Nanjing expressed concern about my vacation plans. One of the conversations I vividly remember having was with my trainer:

Me: “I won’t be seeing you all next week. I’m going to Xinjiang.”

Trainer: “What?! I’ve never been there, why would you want to go?”

Me: “Well … It’s a trip organized by Nanjing University and it sounds interesting.”

Trainer: “You do know Xinjiang is very, very dangerous!”

Me: “How come?”

Trainer: “They kill people on the street” (He then taps one of his colleagues) . “Tell him he’s crazy for going to Xinjiang.”

Other trainer: “Oh … you’re not coming back.” (Following up with a motion of shanking (aka stab) me that I’m oh too familiar with as an urban youth growing up in LA). 

After having that conversation I pondered about, how could things in Xinjiang be any worst than in LA? While living in Nanjing, my Chinese friends would tell me about their “concerns”, but it never did compare with LA crime, violence or other “dangers”. I felt for the most part they were a bit overtly dramatic and sensitive about anything.  They didn’t really know what real problems are. If going to Xinjiang compared to my fond memories of walking to school and fearing for my safety then, sure maybe Xinjiang is dangerous.

When I actually arrived in Xinjiang that spring break a year ago it reminded me of El Salvador. It reminded me a lot of the rural parts of El Salvador: underdeveloped and desolate. Having those memories associated with Xinjiang, I began to feel that maybe my Chinese friends were right. Perhaps this wasn’t one of my most brilliant ideas. It didn’t help that my foreign friends who came along with me were also starting to feel concerned for their safety. 

Upon arriving to Xinjiang we were given a debrief that China has minoritie. Who would have guessed? For the longest time and I’m sure I’m no acception to this I thought China was just one ethnicity: Chinese. But apparently there are several living in China. 56 to be right. In Xinjiang the minorities that make up the minority are Uyghurs. They’re like a hybrid of Asian and Middle Easterners.

However, by the end of the trip we all felt that Xinjiang was just misunderstood. Xinjiang’s inhabitants are often victims of the same institutions minorities in the USA face. They face similar barriers I could identify myself with. So when I came across reading this article this week I was a bit disturbed by it. Even though, with Chinese presence in the region has made standard of living better. It doesn’t justify the state’s oppression of Uyghur culture and identity, the same way the USA attempted to suppress Spanish in the early 1900s. 

Although I can recognize China’s need to unify a national identity, it has gone about creating a national identity the wrong way. Diluting other minority’s identity won’t standardize a national identity. What do you guys think is the best form a state can create a national identity?

Spring Break | 春假: Taiwan ｜台灣

Spring break is over and I’m jet-lagged from Taiwan like no other. This feels worst than having a hangover after a series of bad judgment calls. Reasoning? It’s longer lasting. Like as in throughout the week I feel it: in class, at work, while writing this post. You name it. Funny thing is I don’t get this syndrome when I go abroad. I adjust perfectly fine, as if I never took it upon myself to travel for 12 hours on a plane (Ha!). Nevertheless, as my friend stated, “Being jet-lagged is a privilege.”

Anyways, while I was in Taiwan I came across an awkward silent moment, where I really needed to think about how should I be politically and correctly respond to the old aging question: Is Taiwan (台灣) part of China (中國)?  

For many of you guys who don’t know Taiwan is a pseudo-country. Meaning that it functions like an independent country with its own elected democratic government, economic system, monetary currency system and political system. Even though the Chinese (People’s Republic of China--not the other one: Republic of China <--That's Taiwan) government claims it as one of their provinces. And so ... I found myself in a tricky situation. Because moments like these you know people have a preference. You know people will be offended if you say the wrong thing.

It didn’t help that as international relations (IR) major I’m aware that the United States of America doesn’t recognize Taiwan as its own country, although it supports it indirectly. And so there I was! Stuck.

Throughout my IR studies I've always wondered how did China and Taiwan end up in such a peculiar situation. Where you find China claiming to be the rightful owner of Taiwan. And ... meanwhile, Taiwan ain't having none of that. Taiwan has traditionally wanted to reunify with the mainland under their democratic principles. If such an agreement can't be made they've also threatened independence. Is safe to assume those who aren't in either camp in Taiwan are entirely staying out of it until another better solution presents itself as Niou, a scholar argues.

To understand the current polarization we need to go back into history. I sorta discussed this in a previous blog about the history of the development of modern China, but I didn't really go in depth with the tension between the People's Republic of China (PRC-China) and the Republic of China (ROC-Taiwan). After the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1912 the ROC emerges and takes control. Later Mao Zedong leader of the PRC is in direct opposition of the ROC. This leads to a brutal war in mainland China for governance. The PRC ended up winning because they received the most support from the country side and in 1945 forced the ROC and everyone else who was against communism to flea to Taiwan (Note: Before the ROC fled to Taiwan it wasn't that important for the mainland). The ROC originally wasn't going to  stay in Taiwan for a very long time, they wanted to go back to China and take it back. But that failed. And so you have the current situation we're in now.

As a result, this Taiwan Strait issue has consumed Chinese foreign diplomacy over the last past decades in the hopes to reunify their rogue island.  But all efforts have been in vain. For more than 70 years Taiwan continues to function autonomous of China (if we consider it part of China). 23 countries have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which gives it partial legitimacy in the international community. Nevertheless, China is determined to remove this status from Taiwan to reunify the island under one China.

So this situation got me thinking, why does China try so hard to reclaim the island? As mentioned before in my previous post, China is unwilling to loose its territorial integrity because they need to purge themselves from imperialism (Note: Taiwan use to be a former Japanese colony from 1895-1945). Also by letting Taiwan exist as a stand-alone nation it will validate the independence movements in Tibet and Xinjiang. Therefore, China’s foreign affairs need to be strategic on how they go about securing Taiwan.

This means I also need to be strategic what my answer should be. To be culturally sensitive I went with the most common belief in Taiwan: Taiwan is different from mainland China. It's implies that they're not part of China, but sorta, kinda they are China. I suggest from experience that if you travel to mainland China the government teaches Chinese students Taiwan is part of China. So if you're in the mainland just nod your head and agree to this common belief. Even if you personally don't agree with it. But, if you're in Taiwan just say it's different. You won't be committing yourself to anything. The more ambiguous the better.

What Matters: Military Might or Economic Might?

As children we often have this idea that if we become stronger than people will take us more serious. When we’re in a school playground all we want is power. But, power comes in different shapes and forms. For a student in the playground ‘power’ might mean having an aura of intimidation so others don’t bother them. Countries are no exception to this belief. Military force is one of the tactics countries use to demonstrate their strength. Everyone wants to feel a sense of superiority from others. And recently with China’s economic wealth has permitted the country to increase their military spending.

China’s economic rise has given China the opportunity to increase their military spending alongside a growing GDP. This military might remains an important piece of China’s foreign policy puzzle because the People’s Liberation Army is still influential in foreign affairs. Henceforth, the discussion of China’s military might is in direct correlation with its economic miracle. As China continues to generate wealth so will they continue to promote their military ambitions.  

You may be asking yourself, why is this important? Remembering on my past post, I discussed that China has been a victim of aggression. Traditionally the threat came from the inland territories of China; such as, the Mongols who kept invading China. However, later as the West started to invade China in unconventional methods it left China vulnerable for the next century. In response to these historical invasions China has learned to adapt and realized the importance of building up their defense and offensives. Thus, you have modern China’s desire for military built up to fend off future conflicts. For example, territorial disputes in Xinjiang, Tibet, Taiwan, and the China Sea.

At this point you may be asking yourself, with so much territorial conflict in China, is China more prone to be an aggressive country? The answer is hard to say, but looking at China’s rhetoric they are committed to a harmonious coexistence. Especially when it is related to their economic progress. Therefore, China is not only concerned about territorial integrity but also trading capabilities. China’s increasing military might is often rationalized as means to protect their trading interest in the South China Sea.

Despite that China is perfectly aware of their growing domestic turbulence, they will not upset market forces from halting their economic development. However, any threat that undermines Chinese sovereignty could lead to military confrontation. For example, the uprisings in Tibet and Xinjiang in the last decade have been dealt with military intervention. China has highlighted its commitment to protect their borders because protecting them is a means to secure the regime. Moreover, territorial integrity means national unification and reinforces the government’s authority.

Should the world be fearful? China says no, that’s crazy! Many analysts argue that Beijing remains careful and pragmatic. Meaning that although China spends a lot of money on the military budget it still favors economic progress over anything else. Since China rather not upset the environment within which it is thriving in it won’t openly disturb the global arena. Just like the kid in the playground his ambitions are not to start fights, but more like avoid fights with other people. So this should calm everyone’s nerves: China isn’t trying to take over the world (just yet).