East Turkestan (21st Century Crisis)

East Turkestan, also known as Uyghurstan and officially the Republic of East Turkestan (Uyghur: شەرقىي تۈركىستان جۇمھۇرىيىتى), is a country in East and Central Asia.

It borders the countries of China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. The rugged Karakoram, Kunlun, and Tian Shan mountain ranges occupy much of East Turkestan's borders, as well as its western and southern regions. Xinjiang also borders Tibet Autonomous Region and the provinces of Gansu and Qinghai. The most well-known route of the historical Silk Road ran through the territory from the east to its northwestern border. In recent decades, abundant oil and mineral reserves have been found in East Turkestan, and it is currently one of East Asia's largest natural gas-producing regions.

With a documented history of at least 2,500 years, a succession of people and empires have vied for control over all or parts of this territory. The territory came under the rule of the Qing dynasty in the 18th century; which was later replaced by the Republic of China government.

Finally in 1954, with major help from the Soviet Union, the People's East Turkestani Republic was established, after the Xinjiang War between the Soviet Union, Uyghur seperatists and the People's Republic of China.