The East Turkistan Government-in-Exile (ETGE) has urged US President Donald Trump to directly confront Chinese President Xi Jinping over Beijing's alleged 'ongoing genocide' against Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other Turkic peoples in East Turkistan — also known as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region — during their upcoming bilateral meeting in Washington. The appeal was issued ahead of Xi's state visit to the United States from 23–25 September, during which the two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral ties, world peace, and development, according to China's Foreign Ministry.

The Strategic Stakes Behind the Plea

The ETGE argues that Xinjiang is far from a peripheral human rights issue — framing it instead as a central node in China's economic and military power. According to Chinese government figures cited by the exiled authorities, approximately 30 percent of China's onshore petroleum resources, 34 percent of its natural-gas reserves, and more than 40 percent of its coal resources lie within the region. Beijing itself, the ETGE noted, designates the territory a 'core area' and key gateway of the Belt and Road Initiative linking China with Central Asia and wider Eurasia.

The exiled government also highlighted what it described as significant military infrastructure in the region. Near Qumul, it alleged, the Chinese military has constructed a field containing approximately 110 intercontinental ballistic-missile silos, while Lop Nur historically served as China's nuclear testing ground. Chinese authorities, the ETGE added, are reportedly expanding large-scale computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure across the territory.

What the ETGE Is Asking of Trump

The exiled body called on the Trump administration to ensure that any agreement reached with Beijing does not come at the cost of the East Turkistani people. Trade, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals are widely expected to dominate the Washington talks. The ETGE specifically urged the US President to reject deals that weaken accountability mechanisms or forced-labour restrictions, press Beijing to release arbitrarily detained East Turkistanis, and formally support the people's 'right to decolonisation and the restoration of national independence and sovereignty.'

Mamtimin Ala, President of the East Turkistan Government-in-Exile, said Trump should make clear to Xi that 'genocide, colonial occupation, and the exploitation' of the region cannot be separated from the broader strategic challenge China poses to the United States.

The Strategic Argument for US Intervention

Salih Hudayar, Foreign Minister of the ETGE and President of the East Turkistan National Movement, articulated the case in explicitly strategic terms: 'The critical minerals, energy resources, trade routes, and military infrastructure Beijing controls through Occupied East Turkistan are pillars of Chinese strategic power. East Turkistan's independence is therefore not only essential to the survival of our people, but also directly relevant to America's long-term strategic interests.'

The ETGE's framing — linking humanitarian concerns to US geopolitical self-interest — reflects a deliberate effort to move the Xinjiang issue from the margins of human rights advocacy into the centre of great-power competition discourse. This comes amid heightened global scrutiny of China's policies in the region, with the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union having previously imposed sanctions over documented abuses.

What Happens Next

Whether the Trump administration heeds the ETGE's appeal remains to be seen. Trade and technology are expected to dominate the Washington agenda, with critics warning that human rights concerns risk being traded away for economic concessions. The outcome of the Xi–Trump summit on 23–25 September will be closely watched by Uyghur diaspora groups, human rights organisations, and geopolitical analysts alike.