Page 120 - Communist Chinas Policy of Oppression in East Turkestan

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ders") following their occupation by China does not change that histor-
ical reality.

Over the 2,000 or so years, between 206 B.C. and 1759 A.D., East
Turkestan was able to maintain its independence for more than 1,800
years. During the periods when it was linked to the Turkish Hun and
Gokturk khanates, local administration lay entirely in the hands of the
people of East Turkestan. Between 751 and 1216 it was totally indepen-
dent. During those periods China periodically occupied East Turkestan

THE SILK ROAD FROM SIAN
T hroughout TO ISTANBUL
history, the
Silk Road that Istanbul
passed
through East Ankara
Turkestan Gobi Desert
played an im-
portant role in Tabriz Hami
the Chinese Ashkhabad Bukhara Tashkent Aksu Turfan
economy. Be- MESOPOTAMIA Tehran Samarkand Kuche Ansi
hind present- Marw Kashgar
day China's La
wish to main- TAKLAMAKAN DESERT
tain its rule
over East
Turkestan lies
the strategic
importance of SAUDI ARABIA
the area. ARABIAN SEA INDIA BAY OF BENGAL

Communist China’s Policy
of Oppression in East Turkestan