East Turkistan, what Beijing calls ‘Xinjiang (New Territory),’ is at the centre of a formal appeal from exile leaders ahead of President Donald J. Trump’s state visit to Beijing on May 14 and 15, 2026.
The East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) and the East Turkistan National Movement (ETNM) have asked Trump to press Xi Jinping on what they describe as genocide and colonial occupation. The petitioners say East Turkistan independence serves both human rights and United States strategic interests.
The ETGE submitted a detailed policy petition framing East Turkistan independence as a moral imperative and a matter of US national security. The government-in-exile says the summit is an opportunity for Washington to shift its approach to China on East Turkistan.
ETGE links East Turkistan independence to US strategic interests
The ETGE argues that East Turkistan’s natural resources are critical to global defence supply chains. The government-in-exile argues that East Turkistan’s independence would reduce Beijing’s leverage over critical minerals. The ETGE cites beryllium, lithium, zirconium, and rare earth element deposits as strategic assets it says could be supplied to the United States under different political arrangements.
The ETGE and ETNM also link military infrastructure in East Turkistan to broader strategic risk. Their submission states that missile and testing facilities in the territory increase China’s strategic reach. These technical and security claims are attributed to the ETGE and ETNM filing and have not been independently verified by The East Turkistan Post.
For background, see our earlier report on ETGE’s UN decolonization petition.
ETGE describes ongoing genocide and failed human rights mechanisms
The ETGE describes a range of atrocities it says have continued into 2026. These include mass detention, forced labour transfers, and family separations. It also references five evidence submissions it says it filed with the International Criminal Court since 2020. No formal investigation has opened.
The petition specifically cites China’s March 12, 2026 Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress. The ETGE says the law codifies measures that erode distinct Turkic cultural and social institutions. Chinese authorities have described the legislation as “promoting unity and development,” according to Chinese state media reporting.
The ETGE states that existing human rights mechanisms have not produced results. Therefore, the government-in-exile argues that East Turkistan independence is the only fundamental solution.
Among its formal requests, the ETGE asks Trump to publicly condemn alleged abuses in East Turkistan and Tibet. The government-in-exile also calls on Trump to refuse any bilateral agreements that would enable ongoing atrocities. Furthermore, the government-in-exile calls for the creation of a US Special Coordinator for East Turkistani Issues at the State Department.
The ETGE calls on Trump to issue public challenge to Xi Jinping
“President Trump must demonstrate that same American leadership: look Xi in the eye and declare, Mr. Xi, end this genocide. End the occupation of East Turkistan and Tibet. Free these captive nations,” said ETGE Foreign Minister Salih Hudayar.
Chinese officials routinely deny that it is committing genocide in East Turkistan. They describe relevant policies as lawful measures to promote stability and development, according to Chinese state media and official statements.
