Türkiye’s Diplomatic Perception of the Turkic Islamic Republic of East Turkestan: Ideological Dynamics and Geopolitical Interests (1933–1935)

Abstract

This study examines Türkiye’s diplomatic communications, with a focus on its foreign policy towards the Turkic Islamic Republic of East Turkestan (TIRET), which was established in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and existed for less than six months. The aim is to understand Turkey’s diplomatic perception of TIRET by analyzing recently declassified archival documents from 1933 to 1935 through an inductive approach to idiographic case study and qualitative content analysis. In studying this under-explored topic, the main findings indicate that Türkiye maintained a distance from TIRET due to its perceived religious extremism that stood in tension with the secular revolutionary principles of the modern republic established in 1923. Meanwhile, Türkiye closely monitored the Xinjiang policies of key powers in the region, such as the United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and Japan, particularly those related to perceived Turkish interests. Türkiye’s interest mainly stemmed from the involvement of individuals opposed to the new Turkish regime, including former military officers, politicians, and exiled members of the Ottoman dynasty, which overlapped with external powers’ policies towards Xinjiang. Türkiye’s cautious engagement reflects its attempt to navigate complex international dynamics in light of its domestic ideological mindset and external geopolitical interests.