Photo: Daily Sabah
The Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States has officially changed its name to the Organization of Turkic States at the 8th Summit of the Turkic Council held in Istanbul last week.
According to Global Times, the name change is in line with Turkey’s geopolitical ambitions. Since the failed negotiations to join the EU, Ankara has started building diplomatic connections elsewhere, namely in the Middle East and Central Asia.
“Changing the name of into “the Organization of Turkic States” embodies the rise of the pan-Turkism”, the Global Times writes. This subsequently raises worries in Beijing, that the organization would embrace Uyghurs in their fellowship of Turkic people.
“There are groundless sayings that Uygur people in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are of the same ethnic group as Turks”, Global Times claims. “This is wrong. Xinjiang has been a multi-ethnic region since ancient times”, Global Times insists. “The Uyghur people do speak a language which belongs to the Turkic one, but they have no other relation to Turkey.” Global Times claims.
“China should remain vigilant against the spread of pan-Turkism and pan-Islamism that the Organization of Turkic States may bring about. The spread of such thoughts may inspire some extremist and separatist forces, that have attempted to split China”, Global Times concludes.
Source: Global Times