“The Beijing Swift” - By Prof. Samitha Hettige

The International Criminal Court (ICC) recently refused to investigate the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) for alleged genocide and crimes against the Uygurs community in the Xinjiang region. The PRC is a permanent member of the UN and is not a signatory to ICC. The USA which initiated a resolution against Sri Lankan armed forces on war crimes is also not a signatory to ICC and some USA senators introduced a resolution against China also for committing genocide against Uygurs and other Turkic-speaking Muslims.

The allegation against China was largely on how China treated those Chinese nationals who violated border control regulations and were deported back to China from Tajikistan and Cambodia. During 6th century BC, the Persian empire was spanning from present day Iran to western China. Long before that people still migrated along the ancient Silk Road and settled in Central Asia and Western China. One notable personality who hailed from those blood lines was Admiral Zheng He who was decorated by rulers of Great China and was the most powerful man in the international waters about a century before European naval powers started sailing.

As per Chinese records, the PRC has brought over 800 million people out of poverty through economic development through education and economic development. Therefore, the charge against the PRC about marginalizing the communities with middle eastern origins should be analyzed in more balanced manner rather than hitting at China purely on political reasons as in Hong Kong affairs. Before the PRC was established in 1949, a huge majority of Chinese including the Uygurs were living in extreme poverty. The PRC reached its first centenary goal by eradicating poverty in China by end of 2020. Adding to that China issued a white paper on vocational education and training in Xinjiang recently. It is a move that will benefit the entire PRC as the demand for those who go through these training programs will become an essential part of maintaining China’s mega structures in the decades to come. It is a good lesson for Sri Lanka. We experienced youth uprisings in 1971 and 87 and a bloody 30-year war since we neglected the needs of the youth. China expects to eradicate common enemies of humanity such as terrorism and extremism through vocational training and education. We requested China to help establish more vocational training facilities when Diplomat Yang Jiechi visited. We also must use vocational training more to get youth involved in development with assistance from friends like the PRC.

The writer is an Academic and a Broadcaster. Views expressed are personal and may not necessarily be the views of his affiliations.