China and Malaysia’s relations are set for a new test after the Muslim-majority country freed 11 ethnic Uighur Muslim detainees it held on humanitarian grounds, ignoring a months-old request from Beijing for their repatriation on security grounds. The detainees had been charged with illegally entering Malaysia after escaping a jail in Thailand last November.
Malaysian prosecutors dropped charges against the Uighurs, a Turkic language-speaking Muslim ethnic minority indigenous to China’s western Xinjiang province. Last week they were allowed to travel to Turkey, where thousands have fled to seek asylum from Chinese persecution and are welcomed by Turkish nationalists who regard them as kin.
The Uighur detainees had been imprisoned in Thailand since 2014 and were ordered to remain in custody until their nationalities could be proven, a situation complicated by the fact that both China and Turkey claim them as their citizens. Twenty prisoners staged a jailbreak last year using blankets to scale barbed-wire fences, with some crossing into neighboring Malaysia.
“They have done nothing wrong in this country, so they are released,” Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad told reporters in his first public comments on the issue since charges against the Uighur detainees were withdrawn. A statement by China’s Foreign Ministry, however, took a hard diplomatic line against the decision.
“These people are all Chinese nationals. We resolutely oppose them being deported to a third country,” said the statement, which expressed hope that Malaysia would “attach great importance” to its concerns. Beijing has been vigorous in its attempts to persuade foreign governments to extradite ethnic Uighurs it believes pose a security threat.
The Chinese government has overseen a massive security crackdown in Xinjiang in recent years, imposing sweeping restrictions on Islamic practices in a supposed bid to eliminate religious extremism. It accuses armed Uighur separatists of plotting unrest and carrying out stabbing and bomb attacks that have killed hundreds of China’s ethnic Han majority.
Sources cited in a Reuters report earlier this year claimed Malaysia had been under “great pressure” to deport the Uighurs to China rather than to Thailand. Western foreign missions and human rights groups later tried to dissuade authorities from handing the Uighurs to Beijing over fears they would be persecuted if returned.
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak’s administration fulfilled Beijing’s extradition requests for Uighurs. Biometric information provided by Beijing enabled the arrests of 29 Uighurs in Malaysia since 2011, all of whom were deported to China, including six who were repatriated in 2012 despite having pending refugee status applications.
Human Rights Watch, a rights lobby, had called on the then Malaysian government to provide the 11 Uighurs with access to refugee status determination proceedings. The US State Department echoed those calls, urging Malaysia to provide temporary protection for the detainees while their eligibility for refugee protection was determined.
Malaysia had been in talks with Thai authorities over the fate of the detained Uighurs, though it never reached a resolution. Analysts believed Malaysia would eventually comply with China’s extradition requests, as it has in the past to maintain and deepen already robust economic and security ties.
Prior to his defeat at the ballot box in May’s general election, Najib relied on China’s economic largesse as a political life raft. Despite being a relatively minor recipient of Chinese investment up until 2012, Malaysia became one of the top investment destinations for projects linked to China’s US$1 trillion Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) under Najib’s watch.
Malaysia’s new Mahathir-led government has taken a significantly more independent stance toward China, making the recalibration of ties with Beijing a key foreign policy priority. Since taking office in May, his administration has cancelled or deferred some US$23 billion worth of projects awarded to Chinese companies by the previous government.
Though Mahathir has moved to reset the terms for dealing with China, his administration has consistently signaled his broad support for BRI and Chinese investment. Chinese state media has in recent months been relatively cautious in its response to Mahathir’s rebalancing efforts and has appeared careful not to criticize Malaysia’s new administration.
Indeed, Beijing has shown patience and a certain willingness to entertain valid criticism of mega-projects that Mahathir had cautioned against on grounds of safeguarding national sovereignty. Some analysts, however, believe Malaysia’s open defiance of China’s request to extradite asylum-seeking Uighurs could be a bridge too far for Beijing.
“China’s Foreign Ministry has said it ‘resolutely’ opposed the move, a sparingly used term normally reserved for core interest issues such as Taiwan or the South China Sea,” said Shahriman Lockman, a senior analyst at the Institute of Strategic & International Studies in Malaysia.
“There’s good reason to expect China to impose certain costs on Malaysia, if for no other reason than to warn other countries to comply with China’s wishes on the extradition of Uighurs,” said the analyst, who believes deporting the Uighurs to China would have been “untenable” for the government given strong civil society support for the detainees.
“Muslim and human rights NGOs were instrumental in lobbying the government to release the 11 Uighurs to Turkey. Malaysia has strongly advocated for Muslim communities around the world — the Palestinians and Myanmar’s ethnic Rohingya minority in particular,” he said. “But we shouldn’t pretend that it hasn’t been selective at times.”
Under Mahathir, who served previously as premier from 1981 to 2003, Malaysia had been “noticeably mute” during Russia’s 1990s military campaign in Chechnya, said the analyst. “I don’t expect Malaysia to be particularly vocal on the Uighurs given the importance of the relationship with China. It will just do what’s needed to placate domestic pressures on the issue.”
While it remains to be seen whether Mahathir’s latest defiance of China will spiral into a full diplomatic tiff, Chinese state media has so far been quiescent on the move, pointing fingers instead at Western politicians and media for setting off “a wave of anti-China” rhetoric over Beijing’s muscular counterterrorism efforts in Xinjiang.
“Western forces don’t care about the welfare of the Xinjiang people. They would rather sacrifice stability in Xinjiang and the lives of hundreds of thousands for a single geopolitical victory over China,” said a recent editorial in the nationalist Chinese tabloid Global Times which defended a new legislative amendment recognizing local governments’ use of internment facilities critics have labeled “re-education camps.”
In August, a United Nations committee said it had received “credible reports” that up to a million ethnic minority Uighurs and other Muslims were being held in such camps and subject to “political indoctrination.” Beijing refers to the sites as “vocational training centers”, where those accused of minor criminal misdemeanors receive reformative training.
China denies the arbitrary detainment or ill-treatment of its citizens, though has refused to release statistics on how many Uighurs and other Muslims have been detained in Xinjiang. Critics have characterized Beijing’s efforts to impose political and social control in the province as a campaign of assimilation aimed at erasing Uighur culture and identity.
“The Chinese government will not permit Xinjiang to become a second Syria, Libya or Iraq,” China’s Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng told the Financial Times in a recent interview, framing Beijing’s conduct as consistent with global anti-terrorism efforts. Upheaval in Xinjiang can seep through China’s borders “and maybe spread to Europe,” the official said.
LOL. It is as if Malaysia cares about Uighur’s rights when it is systematically violating all sorts of rights back at home. Pure politics.
LOL. It is as if Malaysia cares about Uighur’s rights when it is systematically violating all sorts of rights back at home. Pure politics.
The funeral of Ismail Amat, vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People’s Congress, was held Thursday in Beijing.
Ismail Amat, also vice chairperson of the 7th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and former state councilor, passed away due to illness at the age of 84 in Beijing on Oct. 16.
Xi Jinping, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, Wang Qishan, Hu Jintao and other senior officials paid their final respects at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing Thursday.
They paid tribute during a moment of silence and bowed three times in front of Ismail Amat’s body. They also extended their condolences to his family.
Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, Wang Qishan, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao and other senior officials had either visited Ismail Amat when he was in hospital or offered their condolences to his family after his death.
Ismail Amat was described in an official statement as an excellent member of the Communist Party of China, a loyal communist soldier, an outstanding leader in ethnic work of the Party and the state, and an excellent son of the Uygur people.
The funeral of Ismail Amat, vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People’s Congress, was held Thursday in Beijing.
Ismail Amat, also vice chairperson of the 7th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and former state councilor, passed away due to illness at the age of 84 in Beijing on Oct. 16.
Xi Jinping, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, Wang Qishan, Hu Jintao and other senior officials paid their final respects at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing Thursday.
They paid tribute during a moment of silence and bowed three times in front of Ismail Amat’s body. They also extended their condolences to his family.
Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, Wang Qishan, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao and other senior officials had either visited Ismail Amat when he was in hospital or offered their condolences to his family after his death.
Ismail Amat was described in an official statement as an excellent member of the Communist Party of China, a loyal communist soldier, an outstanding leader in ethnic work of the Party and the state, and an excellent son of the Uygur people.
Mahatir’s anti-chinese and anti-business policy is obvious. Too bad, a 92-year old guy has not yet acquired the worldly wisdom…
Mahatir’s anti-chinese and anti-business policy is obvious. Too bad, a 92-year old guy has not yet acquired the worldly wisdom…
Malaysia have allowed Zakir Naik to hide in Malaysia despite India request to extradic him. And I am sure you are aware that Zakir Naik is a preacher of hate and he is banned in many countries.
Malaysia have allowed Zakir Naik to hide in Malaysia despite India request to extradic him. And I am sure you are aware that Zakir Naik is a preacher of hate and he is banned in many countries.
Nile Bowie,
There is nothing absolutely right or wrong or in-between in politics let alone geopolitics. Every decision is made having regard to one’s self interest. I agree with the open candour in your narrative or content, but I have to treat as suspect the wording of the title. It is like comparing apples with oranges.
Malaysia’s ties with China has always been ‘economic’ rather than ideological or political or even religious. To be a friend or even an admirer of China does not mean you have to be fawning and subservient stooge. Friendship must be postulated on mutual respect.
Similarly Malaysia would not without good reason get involved with Uighur rights. But as it is Malaysia is a Muslim country. The epitome of Islam is mercy and compassion.
Mahathir is and has always been his own man. He too is a Muslim (by Malaysian Law all Malays have to be Muslims) but a modern minded moderate Muslim. He does not have time for radical Islam either, a fact you do not mention in your writing. If anything Mahathir is the most ardent anti-terrorist! Only Sunni Islam is allowed to be practised in Malaysia. Not all Muslims are the same. If Mahathir had his way all Muslims should put emphasis on education, being hard working, be filial and be humble and benevolent in a suave urban Western educated sense.
Whether right or wrong, it comes down to how Mahathir made his call. He did not want to upset China but he was personally inclined to deport the Uighurs if possible but not back to China. His Coalition Pakatan Harapan won minority (47% of the popular vote) government with mainly non-Malay votes. He had to please the rural and semi rural Malays who are still the mainstay of the now opposition United Malay National Organisation.
And Turkey offered the ‘saving grace’ in agreeing to take them. Turkey is a Muslim country and as you said the Uighurs are regarded by them as kin.
What Mahathir did was dictated by what was in the best interest of Pakatan Harapan. If Pakatan Harapan had hold of the majority Malay votes, then Mahathir would have done exactly what his predecessor Najib who he ousted did – deport the Uighurs back to China. Different tune different melody, you have to do a different dance.
Blaming or attributing it to geopolitics is missing the truth altogether.
Vincent Cheok @ https://whirlwindrambler.com/
Nile Bowie,
There is nothing absolutely right or wrong or in-between in politics let alone geopolitics. Every decision is made having regard to one’s self interest. I agree with the open candour in your narrative or content, but I have to treat as suspect the wording of the title. It is like comparing apples with oranges.
Malaysia’s ties with China has always been ‘economic’ rather than ideological or political or even religious. To be a friend or even an admirer of China does not mean you have to be fawning and subservient stooge. Friendship must be postulated on mutual respect.
Similarly Malaysia would not without good reason get involved with Uighur rights. But as it is Malaysia is a Muslim country. The epitome of Islam is mercy and compassion.
Mahathir is and has always been his own man. He too is a Muslim (by Malaysian Law all Malays have to be Muslims) but a modern minded moderate Muslim. He does not have time for radical Islam either, a fact you do not mention in your writing. If anything Mahathir is the most ardent anti-terrorist! Only Sunni Islam is allowed to be practised in Malaysia. Not all Muslims are the same. If Mahathir had his way all Muslims should put emphasis on education, being hard working, be filial and be humble and benevolent in a suave urban Western educated sense.
Whether right or wrong, it comes down to how Mahathir made his call. He did not want to upset China but he was personally inclined to deport the Uighurs if possible but not back to China. His Coalition Pakatan Harapan won minority (47% of the popular vote) government with mainly non-Malay votes. He had to please the rural and semi rural Malays who are still the mainstay of the now opposition United Malay National Organisation.
And Turkey offered the ‘saving grace’ in agreeing to take them. Turkey is a Muslim country and as you said the Uighurs are regarded by them as kin.
What Mahathir did was dictated by what was in the best interest of Pakatan Harapan. If Pakatan Harapan had hold of the majority Malay votes, then Mahathir would have done exactly what his predecessor Najib who he ousted did – deport the Uighurs back to China. Different tune different melody, you have to do a different dance.
Blaming or attributing it to geopolitics is missing the truth altogether.
Vincent Cheok @ https://whirlwindrambler.com/
The anti-Chinese leopard in Mahathir cannot change its spots.
The anti-Chinese leopard in Mahathir cannot change its spots.
10,000 Muslims in Yemen were killed by Saudi Arabia lead war against Shia Muslims government in Yemen. A war which have left million of Muslim homeless and without food. And yet Mahathir has chosen to use recent UN assemble to speak about Ronhinya and Palestine but keeping quiet about the world largest humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Dr M anti Chinese attitude is well known in Malaysia, especially among the older Malaysians who have lived under his previous term as PM. So it is not surprising Malaysia Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, the most senior Chinese minister, have been left out of the Beijing trip recently. I reckon there is very little China needs to do response to Dr M unethical way of dealing with bilateral agreement, and I guess the best response is perhaps to not response at all because Malaysia palm oil industry will collapse if China decide to swing its palm oil import to Indonesia.
10,000 Muslims in Yemen were killed by Saudi Arabia lead war against Shia Muslims government in Yemen. A war which have left million of Muslim homeless and without food. And yet Mahathir has chosen to use recent UN assemble to speak about Ronhinya and Palestine but keeping quiet about the world largest humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Dr M anti Chinese attitude is well known in Malaysia, especially among the older Malaysians who have lived under his previous term as PM. So it is not surprising Malaysia Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, the most senior Chinese minister, have been left out of the Beijing trip recently. I reckon there is very little China needs to do response to Dr M unethical way of dealing with bilateral agreement, and I guess the best response is perhaps to not response at all because Malaysia palm oil industry will collapse if China decide to swing its palm oil import to Indonesia.