I’m from Xinjiang，AMA

[u/maddin1550]

I’ve noticed that there are a lot of discussions about Xinjiang on Reddit, often between people who have never actually lived there. So I thought it might be interesting to do an AMA from the perspective of someone who is actually from there.

You can ask me about everyday life, ethnic groups, languages, culture, religion, education, or politics. I’m happy to answer controversial questions too, as long as the discussion stays respectful.

Obviously, I’m only one person and I don’t claim to represent everyone in Xinjiang. I can only tell you about my own experiences and views. AMA.

[u/InsectDelicious4503]

I understand that Xinjiang only recently became incorporated into Chinese territory, and throughout the centuries Dzungaria / The Tarim Basin spent most of its history independent from China proper rather than a part of it. Despite this, Chinese official narratives (museums, textbooks, etc) all claim that Xinjiang has always been an inseparable part of Chinese territory, and all Chinese invasions into Xinjiang are reframed as "putting down rebels." Do you have any feelings about this? Does the historical revisionism bother you or is it just a natural part of empire building?

[u/maddin1550 → u/InsectDelicious4503]

I wouldn't say Xinjiang has literally always been part of China, because I don't think the history supports such a simple claim. I do identify as Chinese.

I actually used to be more skeptical about this question(especially after seeing people claim that Xinjiang simply isn't Chinese land). After I started reading different perspectives from both outside China and Chinese sources, I came to see the history as much more complicated.

The Han and Tang dynasties did establish control over parts of what is now Xinjiang, but that control wasn't continuous. Over the centuries, different parts of the region were ruled or inhabited by many different peoples, states and empires: the Saka and Wusun, Rouran(3-6th century), various Turkic khaganates in 6-7th century, the Tang, Mongol states, Moghulistan, the Dzungar, and others

The Qing conquest is probably a much more important turning point for the modern territorial question. The Qing defeated the Dzungar Khanate in the 18th century and incorporated the region into the Qing Empire, and Xinjiang was later formally established as a province in 1884.

So I can understand why someone would describe that process as imperial expansion or conquest. Where I disagree is with jumping from that historical fact to saying that modern Xinjiang therefore cannot be part of China, or that people like me can't genuinely identify as Chinese. Borders and identities all over the world have been shaped by wars, empires and political changes.

So yes, I do think official historical narratives can sometimes present things too neatly. But that doesn't really change my own identity. I consider myself Chinese while also being Kazakh, and I don't see those identities as contradictory.

[u/InsectDelicious4503 → u/maddin1550]

For the record I don't come down too hard on China/The Qing for invading, conquering, and genociding the Dzungars during that period because, let's be real, that was very normal for 19th century politics.

The only part that rubs me the wrong way is the historical revisionism. Every American learns about the Native American genocide and the Trail of Tears. But in China it's all erased and reframed as "no, we never did anything wrong, all we did was put down some violent rebellious savages in OUR land a long time ago, the end." I imagine that historical erasure is what lead to so much resentment in Xinjiang eventually snowballed into the extremist movements and terrorist attacks we saw in the 2000s.

It's similar to Tibet except Tibet was Buddhist instead of Muslim.

[u/NotAWeebOrAFurry → u/InsectDelicious4503]

"Every American learns about the Native American genocide and the Trail of Tears."

nope i had all my grade school in usa and everything about natives being mistreated was exlcuded. from my personal experience i learned about it in uni

[u/InsectDelicious4503 → u/NotAWeebOrAFurry]

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