When we look at ancient languages, it can clearly be seen that China has no right to this region. In the books of Muslim historians, geographers, linguists and other foreigners, Eastern Turkistan is mentioned frequently by name and this region and its geographic properties are identified. For example, this region has been identified as the “lands beyond the river” or the “land of Turks”.

These lands have been mentioned in detail in famous works by Arab and Muslim historians and travelers. We can mention some of these authors and their works here: Yakut el-Hamevi (1178/ 1228) Mu’cemu’l-Buldan; Ahmed el-Belazuri (d.891) Futuhu’l-Buldan; Shemsuddin ed-Dimeshki (d.1327) Nuhbetu’d-Dehr Fi Acaibi’l-Berri ve’l-Bahr; Ibn Cerir et-Taberi (838 - 923) el-Umem ve’l-Muluk; Mes’ud Ebu’l-Hasen (896 - 957) Murucu’z-Zeheb and Meadinu’l-Cevher; Ahmed Ya’kubi (d.897) Kitabu’l-Buldan; Muhammed Ebu’l-Kasim b. Havkal (d.977) el- Mesalik ve’l-Memalik; Ebu’r-Reyhan el-Biruni (973 - 1048) el-Asaru’l-Bak?ye Ani’l- Kuruni’l-Haliye; Ahmed el-Kalkashendi (1355 - 1418) Subhu’l-A’sha; Ibnu’l-Esir ?zzuddin (1160 - 1234) el-Kamilu Fi’t-Tarih. When we examine works written in the West, the famous Italian traveler Marco Polo, a contemporary of Kubilay, the son of Cenghiz Khan, visited this region. He also described East Turkistan as “Great Turkey” during his visit to the region. Thus, we can understand that the region was perceived at this time as a Turkish country. In the same way, the region is mentioned as “Eastern Turkistan” in the book titled Through Asia by Sven Hedin, in 1898 (on pages 20, 21, 24, 255, 456).

How are these lands mentioned in Chinese written documents?

As is known, China is famous for recording the history of its own emperors. Moreover the “Science of Ethnology” was born in China. The characteristic of this science is that it is selective. It eliminates that which is different from its own characteristics or that which is local and mentions them only when it needs to differentiate itself.3 In this context, Chinese ethnological historians described Eastern Turkistan and its cities as “siyu” in Chinese or as “foreign lands to the west of China”. Moreover, the name of Eastern Turkistan is not mentioned as “Xinjiang” in any historical text. We can give the following examples from books written by the aforementioned historians: the History of the Shi Tang Shu or T’ang Dynasty (618 - 907); the History of the Han Shu or Han Dynasty (260 B.C -24 AD); the History of the Hu Han Shu or 2nd Han Dynasty (25 - 220); the History of the Jin Shu or Jin Dynasty; the History of the Vi Shu or Vi Dynasty (386 - 556) History, the History of the Suy Shu or Suy Dynasty (581 - 617); the History of the Sung Shu or Sung Dynasty (960 - 1279); the History of the Yuan Shi or New Yuan Dynasty (events during the rule of Mongols in China, between 1205 - 1367); the History of the Ming Shi or Ming Dynasty (1368m-1643m).