Xinjiang Province, Republic of China

Sinkiang Province
新疆省
Sinkiang Province 新疆省
1912–1992
	Provincial Government Seal:; 新疆省政府印;
	Sinkiang Province (red) in the Republic of China (as claimed)
Status	Province of the Republic of China (1912–1992)
Capital	Tihwa
Capital-in-exile	Taipei
History
• Established	1912
• Surrender to the People's Liberation Army	October 13, 1949
• Provincial government functions removed	January 16, 1992
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	Xinjiang Province, Qing Empire
Xinjiang
First East Turkestan Republic
Second East Turkestan Republic

Xinjiang Province (Chinese: 新疆省; pinyin: Xīnjiāng Shěng) or Sinkiang Province was a nominal province of the Republic of China without administrative function. First set up as a province in 1884 by the Qing dynasty, it was replaced in 1955 by the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. The original provincial government was relocated to Taipei as the Sinkiang Provincial Government Office (新疆省政府辦事處) until its dissolution in 1992.

Administration

The province inherited the borders of the Qing dynasty province, bordering Kansu, Tsinghai, the Mongol Area, Tibet Area and the countries Soviet Union, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. The claimed boundaries of the province included all of today's Xinjiang and parts of Mongolia, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.^[1]

History

In 1912, the Qing dynasty was replaced by the Republic of China. Yuan Dahua, the last Qing governor of Xinjiang, fled. One of his subordinates, Yang Zengxin, took control of the province and acceded in name to the Republic of China in March of the same year. Through Machiavellian politics and clever balancing of mixed ethnic constituencies, Yang maintained control over Xinjiang until his assassination in 1928 after the Northern Expedition of the Kuomintang.^[2]

The Kumul Rebellion and other rebellions arose against his successor Jin Shuren in the early 1930s throughout Xinjiang, involving Uyghurs, other Turkic groups, and Hui (Muslim) Chinese. Jin drafted White Russians to crush the revolt. In the Kashgar region on November 12, 1933, the short-lived self-proclaimed First East Turkistan Republic was declared.^[3]^[4] The Hui Kuomintang 36th Division (National Revolutionary Army) destroyed the army of the First East Turkestan Republic at the Battle of Kashgar (1934), bringing the Republic to an end. The Soviet Union invaded the province in the Soviet Invasion of Xinjiang. In the Xinjiang War (1937), the entire province was brought under the control of northeast Manchu warlord Sheng Shicai, who ruled Xinjiang for the next decade with close support from the Soviet Union. In 1944, the President and Premier of China, Chiang Kai-shek, informed by the Soviets of Sheng's intention to join the Soviet Union, decided to shift him out of Xinjiang to Chongqing as the Minister of Agriculture and Forest.^[5] More than a decade of Sheng's era had ended. However, a short-lived Soviet-backed Second East Turkestan Republic was established in that year, which lasted until 1949 in what is now Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture (Ili, Tarbagatay and Altay Districts) in northern Xinjiang.

During the Ili Rebellion the Soviet Union backed Uyghur separatists to form the East Turkestan Republic (ETR) in Ili region while the majority of Xinjiang was under the control of the Republic of China.^[3] In 1946, the ROC government and the ETR agreed to establish the Coalition Government of Xinjiang Province, although it collapsed shortly after in 1947. The People's Liberation Army entered Xinjiang in 1949 and the Kuomintang commander Tao Zhiyue surrendered the province to them.^[4] The original provincial government was relocated to Taipei as the Sinkiang Provincial Government Office (新疆省政府辦事處) to symbolize the ROC's claim of sovereignty over the province; it was eventually dissolved in 1992.

Demographics

Ethnic group	Estimated population 1933^[6]
Han Chinese	202,239 (5.41%)
Uyghurs	2,900,173 (77.75%)
Kazakhs	318,716 (8.55%)
Hui	92,146 (2.47%)
Kyrgyz	65,248 (1.75%)
Mongols	63,018 (1.69%)
Taranchis	41,307 (1.11%)
Russians	13,408 (0.36%)
Sibes	9,203 (0.25%)
Tajiks	8,867 (0.24%)
Uzbeks	7,966 (0.21%)
Tatars	4,601 (0.12%)
Solons	2,489 (0.07%)
Manchus	670 (0.02%)
Total	3,730,051

List of governors

Non-partisan/ unknown Warlords People's Anti-Imperialist Association Kuomintang (Nationalist)

Chairperson of the Provincial Government (Mainland era)

No.	Name (Birth–death)	Term of office		Political Party
1	Yang Zengxin 楊增新 Yáng Zēngxīn (1864–1928)	1912	July 7, 1928	Xinjiang clique
1	Yang Zengxin 楊增新 Yáng Zēngxīn (1864–1928)	Assassinated.
2	Jin Shuren 金樹仁 Jīn Shùrén (1879–1941)	July 7, 1928	April 12, 1933	Xinjiang clique
2	Jin Shuren 金樹仁 Jīn Shùrén (1879–1941)	Deposed in a coup.
3	Liu Wenlong 劉文龍 Liú Wénlóng (1870–1950)	April 14, 1933	September 1933
3	Liu Wenlong 劉文龍 Liú Wénlóng (1870–1950)	Removed from office and placed under house arrest by Sheng Shicai.
–	Zhu Ruichi 朱瑞墀 Zhū Ruìchí (1862–1934)	September 1933	March 5, 1934
–	Zhu Ruichi 朱瑞墀 Zhū Ruìchí (1862–1934)	Figurehead chairman appointed by Sheng Shicai and not recognized by the Central government. Died in office.
4	Li Rong 李溶 Lǐ Róng (1870–1940)	October 1934	March 21, 1940
4	Li Rong 李溶 Lǐ Róng (1870–1940)	Figurehead chairman. Died in office.
5	Sheng Shicai 盛世才 Shèng Shìcái (1895–1970)	April 4, 1940	August 29, 1944	People's Anti-Imperialist Association
		April 4, 1940	August 29, 1944	Kuomintang
		Recognized by the Central government only as a duban (military governor), Sheng was de facto ruler of Sinkiang from 1933. In 1940, the Central government recognized him as Provincial chairman. Removed from office.
6	Wu Zhongxin 吳忠信 Wú Zhōngxìn (1884–1959)	August 29, 1944	March 29, 1946	Kuomintang
6	Wu Zhongxin 吳忠信 Wú Zhōngxìn (1884–1959)	Resigned.
7	Zhang Zhizhong 張治中 Zhāng Zhìzhōng (1895–1969)	March 1946	June 1947	Kuomintang
7	Zhang Zhizhong 張治中 Zhāng Zhìzhōng (1895–1969)	Removed from office.
8	Masud Sabri 麥斯武德 مەسئۇت سابرى (1887–1952)	June 1947	January 1949	Kuomintang
8	Masud Sabri 麥斯武德 مەسئۇت سابرى (1887–1952)	First Uighur governor and first non-Han Governor in China during the twentieth century. Appointed during the Ili Rebellion.
9	Burhan Shahidi 包爾漢 بۇرھان شەھىدى (1894–1989)	January 1949	September 26, 1949	Kuomintang
9	Burhan Shahidi 包爾漢 بۇرھان شەھىدى (1894–1989)	Surrendered to the People's Liberation Army.

Xinjiang Provincial Government Office era

Chairperson of the Provincial Government

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–death)	Term of office		Political party
1		Yulbars Khan 堯樂博士 يۇلبارس خان (1888–1971)	April 11, 1950	July 27, 1971	Kuomintang
1		Yulbars Khan 堯樂博士 يۇلبارس خان (1888–1971)	Died in office.

Director, Xinjiang Provincial Government Office

No.	Name (Birth–death)	Term of office		Political party
1	Yao Tao-hung 堯道宏 Yáo Dàohóng (1913–1991)	July 27, 1971	?	Kuomintang
1	Yao Tao-hung 堯道宏 Yáo Dàohóng (1913–1991)	Son of Yulbars Khan.
2	Hou Chi-yu 侯紀峪 Hóu Jìyù	?	January 16, 1992	Kuomintang
2	Hou Chi-yu 侯紀峪 Hóu Jìyù	Post abolished.

References

^ ROC Administrative and Claims.jpg. Wikipedia. Map showing the claims of the ROC.
^ Governors of Xinjiang: Yang Zengxin (1912–1928), Jin Shuren (1928–33), Sheng Shicai (1933–44); source: "Xinjiang". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
^ ^a ^b Feener, R. Michael (2004). Islam in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives. Religion in Contemporary Cultures. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. p. 174. ISBN 1-57607-516-8. OCLC 940831123.
^ ^a ^b Bhattacharji, Preeti (May 29, 2012). "Uighurs and China's Xinjiang Region". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on July 18, 2009. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
^ Brown, Jeremy (2010). Dilemmas of Victory: The Early Years of the People's Republic of China. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. p. 186. ISBN 9780674033658. OCLC 822561761.
^ Klimeš, Ondřej. (January 8, 2015). Struggle by the pen : the Uyghur discourse of nation and national interest, c. 1900–1949. Boston. p. 154. ISBN 978-90-04-28809-6. OCLC 900277055.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[1] ROC Administrative and Claims.jpg. Wikipedia. Map showing the claims of the ROC.

[2] Governors of Xinjiang: Yang Zengxin (1912–1928), Jin Shuren (1928–33), Sheng Shicai (1933–44); source: "Xinjiang". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2016.

[feener-3] Feener, R. Michael (2004). Islam in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives. Religion in Contemporary Cultures. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. p. 174. ISBN 1-57607-516-8. OCLC 940831123.

[cfcr-4] Bhattacharji, Preeti (May 29, 2012). "Uighurs and China's Xinjiang Region". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on July 18, 2009. Retrieved June 19, 2016.

[5] Brown, Jeremy (2010). Dilemmas of Victory: The Early Years of the People's Republic of China. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. p. 186. ISBN 9780674033658. OCLC 822561761.

[6] Klimeš, Ondřej. (January 8, 2015). Struggle by the pen : the Uyghur discourse of nation and national interest, c. 1900–1949. Boston. p. 154. ISBN 978-90-04-28809-6. OCLC 900277055.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

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v t e Historical polities in Xinjiang
Pre-Mongol Empire	Wusun (5th century BC–5th century AD) Shule Kingdom (200 BC-709 AD) Loulan Kingdom (?–77 BC) Protectorate of the Western Regions (60 BC–107) Jushi Kingdom (?-460) Shanshan (77 BC–630) Gaochang (460-640) Kucha (?–789) Yanqi (?–9th century) Kingdom of Khotan (?–1006) Protectorate General to Pacify the West (640-790) Kara-Khanid Khanate (840–1212) Qocho (843–1209) Qara Khitai (1124–1218)
Mongol	Chagatai Khanate (1225–1370) Moghulistan (1347–1680s) Kara Del (1389–1513) Turpan Khanate (1487-1660?) Yarkent Khanate (1514–1705) Dzungar Khanate (1634–1758) Kumul Khanate (1696–1930)
Modern	Xinjiang under Qing rule (1757-1912) Xinjiang (ROC) (1912-1992) Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (1949-)

v t e Xinjiang topics
Ürümqi (capital)
History	Tocharians Yuezhi Xiongnu Han dynasty Protectorate of the Western Regions Chief Official of the Western Regions Kingdom of Khotan Sixteen Kingdoms Gaochang Göktürks: First, Western, Eastern and Second Tang dynasty Protectorate General to Pacify the West Four Garrisons of Anxi Beiting Protectorate Tibetan Empire Uyghur Khaganate Qocho Kara-Khanid Khanate Turkic settlement of the Tarim Basin Qara Khitai Mongol Empire Yuan dynasty Chagatai Khanate Moghulistan Kara Del Turpan Khanate Yarkent Khanate Dzungar Khanate Dzungar conquest of Altishahr Dzungar–Qing Wars Dzungar genocide Kumul Khanate Qing dynasty Qing rule Revolt of the Altishahr Khojas Afaqi Khoja revolts Holy War of the Seven Khojas General of Ili Reconquest of Xinjiang Republic of China Xinjiang Wars First East Turkestan Republic Second East Turkestan Republic Ili Rebellion People's Republic of China PRC incorporation
Geography	Cities Tian Shan Junggar Basin (Dzungaria) Tarim Basin (Southern Xinjiang) Gurbantünggüt Desert Kumtag Desert Taklamakan Desert Turpan Depression Karakoram Mountains Altai Mountains Kunlun Mountains Pamir Mountains Lanzhou–Xinjiang railway
Education	Xinjiang University Xinjiang Agricultural University Xinjiang Medical University
Culture	Doppa Festival Music Meshrep gathering Muqam Tocharian clothing
Cuisine	Dapanji Nan Sangza Samsa Youtazi Pamirdin Xurpa Tunurkawab Chinese Islamic cuisine
Economy	Cotton industry Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps
Visitor attractions	Apak Khoja and Xiang Fei Tomb Flaming Mountains Jiaohe ruins Gaochang Grand Bazaar, Ürümqi Id Kah Mosque Karakul Lake Kizil Caves Niya ruins
Xinjiang conflict	1989 Ürümqi unrest Barin uprising 1992 Ürümqi bombings Ghulja incident 1997 Ürümqi bus bombings 2007 Xinjiang raid 2008 Uyghur unrest 2008 Kashgar attack Shaoguan incident July 2009 Ürümqi riots September 2009 Xinjiang unrest 2010 Aksu bombing 2011 Hotan attack 2011 Kashgar attacks Pishan hostage crisis 2012 Yecheng attack Tianjin Airlines Flight 7554 April 2013 Bachu unrest June 2013 Shanshan riots 2013 Tiananmen Square attack 2014 Kunming attack 2014 China–Vietnam border shootout April 2014 Ürümqi attack May 2014 Ürümqi attack Assassination of Juma Tayir Xinjiang internment camps Persecution of Uyghurs in China
People	Amursana Mingrui Jahangir Khoja Yaqub Beg Zuo Zongtang Yang Zengxin Jin Shuren Sabit Damolla Sheng Shicai Ehmetjan Qasim Wang Zhen Saifuddin Azizi Rebiya Kadeer Nur Bekri Li Zhi Wang Lequan Zhang Chunxian Ilham Tohti Salih Hudayar Sattar Sawut Shirzat Bawudun Ghulam Osman Yaghma Rahile Dawut
Related	Uyghur people Migration to Xinjiang Altishahr Chinese Turkestan East Turkestan East Turkistan Government in Exile East Turkistan National Awakening Movement Independence movement World Uyghur Congress China–Kazakhstan relations China–Kyrgyzstan relations China–Pakistan relations China–Turkey relations
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