The United States and China in Power Transition - Strategic Studies ...

Washington and they will lobby the U.S. Government
to put pressure on China.
The Chinese are very concerned with the “U.S. factor”
in the Xinjiang problem. They note that since the
end of the Cold War, the United States has become
the principal foreign power to interfere with the Xinjiang
problem. They all hold that, much like the Tibet
issue, the United States uses the Xinjiang problem to
put pressure on China. Chinese analysts also see that
the U.S. strategic design against China in this area has
not been affected by the War on Terrorism. They believe
that the United States has an interest in keeping
China’s troubled areas unsettled and unstable so that
the United States will have more strategic flexibility
against China.
The Chinese are especially concerned with the U.S.
Congress and some powerful nongovernmental organizations
(NGOs) in their support for the Uyghur
separatist organizations. They have noted that Congress
uses resolutions, although nonbinding, to put
pressure on China. Congress also uses resolutions to
force the President’s hand. Chinese analysts note that
although other great powers such as Great Britain,
Germany, Russia, Japan, Turkey, and the Soviet Union
supported Uyghur movements in the past, since the
end of the Cold War, the United States has become
the principal foreign power to support the Uyghurs.
Chinese analysts have documented Uyghur activists’
meetings with President Bill Clinton and Vice President
Al Gore and U.S. Government and NGO support
to the WUC. They provide funds and moral support
and put pressure on the Chinese government. 198
172