The Iron Fist of Beijing: 75 Years of Colonial Domination in East Turkestan and Tibet

For three-quarters of a century, the People's Republic of China has tightened its grip on two distinct, ancient lands: East Turkestan, now known as Xinjiang, and Tibet. What Beijing terms ‘liberation’ and ‘development’, a closer look reveals a harrowing saga of systematic domination, cultural erasure, and the relentless subjugation of unique peoples.

As the world often looks away, the echoes of colonial power resound, defining 75 years of an iron-fisted rule that rivals historical imperial conquests.

The story of East Turkestan, a land with deep Turkic and Islamic roots, is particularly tragic. Prior to its annexation, it briefly tasted independence as the East Turkestan Republic.

However, with the establishment of the PRC in 1949, Beijing swiftly moved to incorporate the region, presenting it as a reunification. In 1955, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region was established, supposedly granting autonomy, yet the reality has been anything but. Today, the Uyghur people and other Turkic minorities face an Orwellian nightmare: a vast network of ‘re-education’ camps, forced labor, pervasive surveillance, and the systematic destruction of their cultural and religious heritage.

Mosques are demolished or repurposed, ancient languages are suppressed, and families are torn apart. Beijing's narrative of economic upliftment rings hollow against the backdrop of cultural genocide, where the very identity of a people is under siege.

A similar, equally devastating narrative unfolds in Tibet.

This spiritual heartland, a distinct nation with its own rich culture and a revered spiritual leader in the Dalai Lama, fell under Beijing’s control in the 1950s. The 'peaceful liberation' treaty, signed under duress, swiftly paved the way for military occupation in 1951. Decades of repression followed, leading to the Dalai Lama's exile in 1959.

What ensued was a deliberate campaign to dismantle Tibetan Buddhism, destroy ancient monasteries, and impose 'patriotic education' aimed at eradicating any sense of distinct Tibetan identity. The majestic Tibetan plateau, often called the "Roof of the World," is not only a site of cultural suppression but also faces severe environmental degradation due to reckless resource extraction and infrastructure projects, threatening its delicate ecosystem and global climate stability.

Across both East Turkestan and Tibet, the pattern of China's control mirrors classical colonialism.

Beijing justifies its actions with promises of infrastructure development and economic prosperity, yet the primary beneficiaries are often Han Chinese settlers and state-owned enterprises, not the indigenous populations whose lands and resources are exploited. Demographic engineering, through state-sponsored migration of Han Chinese into these regions, further dilutes local cultures and consolidates Beijing's demographic control.

The right to self-determination, a fundamental principle of international law, is brutally denied, replaced by an imposed narrative of historical belonging to China.

The world's response to these atrocities has often been muted, prioritizing economic ties with China over the urgent humanitarian pleas of the oppressed.

This inaction allows Beijing to continue its policies unchallenged, perpetuating a cycle of suffering and injustice. As we mark 75 years since the onset of this systemic subjugation, it is imperative for the international community to acknowledge the true nature of China’s actions in East Turkestan and Tibet: not liberation, but a sophisticated, modern form of colonial domination.

The time to recognize the distinct identities and histories of these peoples, and to demand an end to their oppression, is long overdue.