Japan's Global Claim to Asia and the World of Islam: Transnational Nationalism and World Power, 1900-1945

Stalin's Great Terror and the Asian Nexus

“…(Matsui 1966, pp. 14-15) The Turkish historian Selc uk Esenbel claims that during the rebellions by Xinjiang Muslims in the period 1931 -1934, Japan 'did provide some arms and intelligence support' (Esenbel 2004(Esenbel , p. 1161. One cannot confirm that Japan actually provided arms, 24 although Japanese agents may have been involved.…”

“…The Japanese authorities may not have directly used the plans of such political figures, but an ample number of diaspora 'advisors' helped flesh out Japanese military strategies of the future. (Esenbel 2004(Esenbel , p. 1162Forbes 1986, p. 140) By this time Xinjiang had virtually been turned into a Soviet colony, with a permanent Soviet military base and an extensive secret police network (staffed by Soviet and Comintern-trained Chinese officials) and controlled by the Soviet Consulate in Urumchi, 'City of sinister repute' (Teichman 1937, p. 99), the Xinjiang capital. It is an eloquent testimony to the significance Stalin attached to the Chinese province.…”

A Muslim Vision for the Chinese Nation: Chinese Pilgrimage Missions to Mecca during World War II

“…Pan-Asian in orientation, these individuals and organizations hoped to use Islam as a means to unify the Asian people under Japanese leadership (Esenbel 2004). After the Russian Revolution of 1917, but especially after the early 1930s, the Japanese military and government gradually co-opted the efforts of these individuals and organizations in order to support a broad Japanese militaristic strategy in China and the rest of Asia (Esenbel 2004). Japanese activities included using Japanese Muslim converts to befriend Chinese Muslims and establishing agencies and institutions to promote research on Chinese Muslims (Ando 2003).…”

“…Japanese activities included using Japanese Muslim converts to befriend Chinese Muslims and establishing agencies and institutions to promote research on Chinese Muslims (Ando 2003). In the early 1930s, Japan also began promoting the idea of a separate country for Sino-Muslims in China (Esenbel 2004). This new Muslim country would be called Huihuiguo, or "a Muslim state," and would be run by a Japanese puppet government, following the model of Manchukuo, or the "Manchu state."…”

“…This new Muslim country would be called Huihuiguo, or "a Muslim state," and would be run by a Japanese puppet government, following the model of Manchukuo, or the "Manchu state." This Muslim state would serve both as a buffer zone against the Soviet Union and China and as a way to divide and rule China (Esenbel 2004).…”