The East Turkistan Government in Exile has urged the international community to formally recognize East Turkistan as an occupied country and even take steps to address the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity perpetrated by China, media reports said.

October 12, 2023, marks the deplorable 74th anniversary of China’s belligerent invasion of East Turkistan, a country that China subsequently renamed “Xinjiang,” which translates to ‘new territory’ or ‘colony’ in the Chinese language. The East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) solemnly underscores the significance of this dark day in the ongoing struggle to restore freedom, justice and national sovereignty to East Turkistan and its people, said East Turkistan Government in Exile in an official release as quoted by ANI.

“China’s invasion was a brutal act of aggression that has led to decades of colonisation, genocide, and occupation,” ETGE Prime Minister Salih Hudayar was quoted as saying by ANI.

“The international community must address the root cause of China’s ongoing Uyghur genocide by recognising East Turkistan as an Occupied Country like Tibet,” he added.