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The Turkestan Islamic Party Takes Aim at China

What’s behind the threats from Uighur Islamists in Damascus?

The escalating rhetoric of the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) highlights their ambition to expand their fight beyond Syria and target China directly. With increasing propaganda and connections to global terrorist networks, the TIP presents a growing challenge to Beijing’s security and its strategic interests, particularly in Xinjiang and along the Belt and Road Initiative.

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The Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP), a militant group composed of Uyghur fighters, has been active in Syria for over a decade. Following the fall of the Assad regime, the TIP issued a direct threat to China, signaling a potential escalation in its ambitions. This article explores the origins of the TIP, its connections with other Islamist factions, and its current propaganda efforts. The group's presence in Syria and potential alliances in Afghanistan and Pakistan pose strategic risks to Beijing. As China's investments and global footprint grow, the TIP's activities highlight vulnerabilities, particularly concerning the Belt and Road Initiative.

 

The full-length country report is only available in German.

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Johann C. Fuhrmann

Johann C

Head of the China Office

johann.fuhrmann@kas.de +86 10 6462-2207; 2208 +86 10 6462-2209

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The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is a political foundation. Our offices abroad are in charge of over 200 projects in more than 120 countries. The country reports offer current analyses, exclusive evaluations, background information and forecasts - provided by our international staff.