Earlier this month, Xiaomi Mobile opened a factory in Istanbul.
Turkish Technology Minister Mustafa Valanke was on hand to welcome the investment by the mainland Chinese company.
Xiaomi’s factory in Turkey is the latest development in the two countries’ rapidly developing close ties.
Gagdas Sunar, professor of political science at Marmara University, said, “The economic and trade relations between the two countries have experienced high growth in the past 20 years or so since 2000. In the last four or five years, this relationship has further intensified. This is not only on an economic level, but also on a political and ideological level.”
The Chinese Communist Party recently bought out an Italian company’s stake in the new No. 3 bridge in Istanbul. The bridge is a local landmark. The Chinese Communist Party is currently one of the largest investors in Turkey.
Traditional European investors are pulling out of the country as European Union countries launch sanctions against Turkey in response to human rights concerns. Analysts say the sanctions are distancing Turkey from the West.
Retired Turkish Admiral Kem Gudenetz said, “These hostile acts against Turkey, while not intended to be coercive, will quickly and eventually push Turkey toward Eurasian powers such as Russia and Communist China. Now, the Asian century has begun.”
Beijing is also increasing its financial assistance to Ankara, intended to prop up the depreciating Turkish currency.
The Communist Party of China is also Turkey’s number one supplier of the new crown vaccine.
Turkey has deepened its relations with China while remaining largely silent about Beijing’s repressive policies in the Uighur region of Xinjiang. But within the Turkish government, there are those who are uneasy about the growing influence of the CCP.
The Chinese Communist Party is coming from the East and will hurt us all,” said Mesut Kashin, an adviser to the Turkish president. You can look at their human rights record. They are killing Uighurs.”
Turkey is one of the main host countries for Uighur refugees. These refugees also include many dissidents.
The Chinese Communist Party is pressuring Turkey to pass an extradition agreement so that Uighurs in its territory can be brought back to mainland China.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to renew pressure on the extradition agreement during his visit to Turkey.
There is still a strong pro-Uyghur lobby in Turkey,” said Cyron Elchenko, a professor at Western Cross Liverpool University. This group is also the vote bank of the current government. As a result, the Turkish government will essentially oscillate between appeasing the Chinese Communist Party and pleasing domestic voters. And this perceived unpredictability by the CCP has prevented it from fully engaging with Turkey.”
Just before Wang Yi departed for Turkey, reports emerged that Beijing had submitted to Ankara a list of Uighur dissidents the CCP wants to extradite back to the country.
Support from the CCP is especially important as Turkey’s currency is under increasing pressure. Ankara thus faces a difficult choice.
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