What Does Turkey’s Decision Not to Require Visas from Chinese Citizens Mean?

Amina Sedef, January 4

On the eve of the New Year, news that Turkey would no longer require visas from Chinese citizens became a hot topic across Turkish newspapers, social media platforms, and television channels.

According to Decree No. 10798, signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and published in Turkey’s Official Gazette on December 31, “Pursuant to Article 18 of Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, starting from January 2, 2026, citizens of the People’s Republic of China holding ordinary passports will be exempt from visa requirements for stays, travel, and transit in Turkey of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.” Previously, Chinese citizens were required to obtain an electronic visa to travel to Turkey, which allowed a maximum stay of 30 days.

Turkey’s new visa policy toward China quickly spread across China’s Xinhua News Agency and other media outlets, as well as on social media platforms used by Uyghurs both inside and outside the homeland, sparking heated discussion. At the same time, it provoked dissatisfaction among Uyghur activists and members of the public in the diaspora who are concerned about the Uyghur issue, and also angered Turks in Turkey who care about the Uyghur cause. Many people expressed their criticism of the decision.

Dr. Erkin Ekrem, an associate professor, strategic expert, and lecturer at Hacettepe University, told Uyghur Post in an interview:
“In my view, the primary reason Turkey made this decision is to attract more Chinese tourists. Second, in recent years China has granted visa exemptions to nearly fifty countries, and Turkey was not among them; Turkey may be hoping to be included on that list. Third, 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Turkey and China, and the two countries may be planning activities to commemorate this. I think Turkey may have taken the first step toward that at the beginning of this year.”

Writer and journalist Halis Özdemir said:
“The main objective behind Turkey’s decision should be analyzed as an effort to expand from a unipolar world toward a multipolar one. Personally, I do not believe that this agreement with China will benefit Turkey. Tourism may develop further, but we cannot know how many of those freely entering from a country governed by a communist system are spies and how many are ordinary tourists. Perhaps the state will take the necessary precautions.”

Kadir Temiz, assistant professor in the Department of International Relations at Istanbul Kültür University and a China specialist, said:
“I also learned about this decision through the media. It is connected to certain bilateral relations between the two countries, and it may also lead to eased visa conditions for Turkish citizens. I believe that some negative aspects have also been taken into consideration.”

However, when the reporter asked, “Which negative aspects do you have in mind?” Kadir Temiz did not respond.

Regarding the impact of this decision on Chinese citizens and Uyghurs, Dr. Erkin Ekrem said:
“This decision has caused quite a stir in China as well. Some Chinese say, ‘This is good; it makes it easier to travel to certain countries via Turkey,’ while others are happy, saying, ‘It will become easier to flee to Europe through Turkey.’ As for its impact on Uyghurs, whether China will issue passports to Uyghurs or not is one issue, and whether Uyghurs will dare to travel to Turkey is another. Because some Uyghurs who came to Turkey were punished over the camp issue, many Uyghurs may be afraid to come for a while. However, this decision could still be beneficial for Uyghurs, and in the future it may make it easier for them to reach Turkey.”

Halis Özdemir also addressed the impact of the decision on Uyghurs in Turkey:
“When we look at the issue from the perspective of our East Turkistani brothers and sisters in Turkey, I see this as harmful to them. As I mentioned earlier, spies may gather information about Uyghurs and carry out propaganda against them. As writers and journalists, we will continue to observe the issue and express our views. Personally, if you ask my opinion, I wish such a decision had not been made.”

Uyghurs in exile have expressed concern that this development reflects the growing closeness of Turkey–China relations and the potential harm it may cause to Uyghurs.

Seyit Tümtürk, president of the World Uyghur Congress, wrote on his personal social media account:
“Turkey has opened its doors to Gog and Magog. Starting January 2, 2026, Chinese will enter Turkey visa-free. Meanwhile, East Turkistanis under Chinese colonial rule cannot obtain passports… I hope our country recognizes the impending danger.”

On November 4, the Turkish-language website Uyghur Haber published an article titled “Visa for Red Capital, Silence for the Oppressed: Doors Opened to China Are Closed in the Face of East Turkistan”, which stated:
“Today, the signature Turkey has placed in the name of tourism and trade will not remain merely an economic decision in history, but will become a moral wound. With this decision, while Chinese tourists walk freely through the streets of Istanbul, our brothers and sisters in East Turkistan continue their struggle for survival under a digital dictatorship. Neither history nor conscience will forgive the prioritization of economic interests over the East Turkistan cause, which bleeds as an open wound in the nation’s conscience.”

Amina Sedef is an Istanbul-based correspondent for Uyghur Post in Turkey. She writes on the diaspora, Uyghur women, and culture.

This article was originally published in Uyghur Post and has been translated from Uyghur into English and republished by Uyghur Times.