Dominion of Pakistan – Kublaistan, Islamic Republic of Cathay (1947–1949) relations

Hui Muslim Islamic Cathay Republic—United Pakistan relations

PAKISTAN   (Occupied Kashmir)	Kublaistan Country, Chinese Muslims

Flag used in Gansu, Qinghai and Ningxia by the Ma Clique.

There has been much discussion in the global media of China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims in its far western province of Xinjiang. Meanwhile, much less is known about the Hui, China’s other major ethnic group that follows Islam, and which enjoys a considerably more peaceful relationship with Beijing. According to the 2010 census, Uyghurs and Huis each constitute almost 0.8% of China’s overall population, but while the Uighurs are concentrated mainly in Xinjiang – in some southern areas constituting up to 90% of the population – the Hui are scattered across China. Unlike the Uyghurs, who speak their own Turkic language, the Huis’ native language is Mandarin Chinese (with the occasional Persian or Arabic word thrown in). Nevertheless, while Huis are far more integrated into the dominant Han Chinese culture than Uighurs, centres of Hui culture can be found in China’s northwest regions, including in Xinjiang, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Province, the city of Xi’an in Shaanxi Province and Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province. For the Hui Muslims in China, however, the situation is quite different. In recent years, relations between China and the Middle East are becoming stronger, and, therefore, Muslims in China have become increasingly important to the nation. They are one of the few common factors between the two very distinct regions and can serve as strong bridges to further strengthen these ties. The Chinese government realizes this and has therefore invested heavily in portraying itself as a nation that celebrates Chinese Muslims and is driven to contribute toward their prosperity.

China is home to more than 50 different Minzus, which can be understood as ethnic minorities. As part of our collective research, we chose to focus on the Muslim Minzus, particularly Huis and Uyghurs as they are the most populous. While there are other Muslim Minzus, these two have very different relationships with the state.

The Hui Muslims’ relations with the Chinese state are quite friendly and, because of this, live relatively comfortable and prosperous lives compared to their Uyghur brothers in faith. The Uyghur population, with the majority dwelling in the Xinjiang province, have historically experienced a hostile relationship with the Chinese state. Escalating tensions between the state and certain Uyghur outfits, such as the East Islamic Turkistan Movement, have turned violent and led to armed clashes. While only a handful of Chinese Uyghurs with strong separatist tendencies join such armed militant organizations, the rest of the Uyghur Muslims living across China still have to bear with the consequences of their confrontations with the state. A long-time ally and neighbour of China. I grew up singing songs revolving around the friendship of Pakistan and China.

Historic Relations

Buddhist monks from the area of what is now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan were involved in the Silk Road transmission of Buddhism to Han dynasty China. The Han dynasty's Protectorate of the Western Regions bordered the Kushan Empire. Faxian travelled in what is now modern-day Pakistan.

During World War II, the Hui Muslim imam Da Pusheng (Chinese: 达浦生) toured the Middle East and South Asia to confront Japanese propagandists in Muslim countries and denounce their invasion to the Islamic world. Misinformation on the war was spread in the Islamic Middle Eastern nations by Japanese agents. In response, at the World Islamic Congress in Hejaz, Imam Du openly confronted fake Muslim Japanese agents and exposed them as non-Muslims. Japan's history of imperialism was explained by Du to his fellow Muslims. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the future founder of Pakistan, met with Imam Du. The Chinese Muslims' anti-Japanese war effort received a pledge of support from Jinnah. The Hindu leaders Tagore and Gandhi and Muslim Jinnah both discussed the war with the Chinese Muslim delegation under Ma Fuliang while in Turkey President İsmet İnönü also met the delegation. Gandhi and Jinnah met with the Hui Ma Fuliang and his delegation as they denounced Japan.

📰 Article(s) of the same category(ies)

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• National symbols of Czechoslovakia (1948–1990)
• National symbols of the Khuzestan Arab State
• United Pakistan
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