In 1944 Moslem forces in China's westernmost province of Xinjiang rose against the Chinese authorities and succeeded in establishing a small independent Islamic state - the East Turkestan Republic. Based on newly available archival material, this book describes the Moslem challenge to Chinese rule and documents the Nationalist government's response to newly awakened Turkic-Moslem nationalism on China's most remote and politically sensitive north-western frontier. With this book, Linda Benson aims to break new ground in the study of Sino-Soviet relations and especially of the policies of Chinese governments toward their national minorities.

In 1944, Moslem forces in the Chinese province of Xinjiang staged an uprising and established an independent Islamic state - the East Turkestan Republic. This book describes that challenge to China's rule, and the Nationalist government's response to Turkic-Moslem nationalism.