Washington

During the NATO Summit in Washington from July 9 to July 11, representatives of the East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) called on NATO nations to address and oppose the atrocities committed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) against the Uyghur community in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR).

Salih Hudayar, Foreign Affairs and Security Minister of ETGE, emphasized in a statement on ‘X’: As the NATO Summit convenes, we urge NATO to confront Chinese imperialism and stand with East Turkistan in our struggle for independence and justice.

Hudayar stressed NATO’s role in countering Chinese expansionism and addressing the ongoing Uyghur genocide. He urged NATO to tackle these critical challenges that threaten fundamental principles of independence, justice, and collective security.

For 75 years, NATO has been a symbol of resistance against tyranny and oppression, offering hope to millions worldwide striving for independence and dignity, Hudayar stated in a video message. It’s crucial to draw NATO’s attention to one of most urgent threats—the aggressive and imperialist ambitions of China.

Hudayar highlighted the historical context, noting the forcible overthrow of the independent East Turkestan Republic by the PRC in 1949. Since then, he emphasized, East Turkistan has suffered from systematic colonization, genocide, crimes against humanity, and immense human suffering.