Xinjiang archaeology reflects China's inclusive culture

Recent archaeological findings at the Mo'er Temple site in Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, and a series of statements by Pan Yue, head of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, have challenged the long-standing Western narrative on Xinjiang. The findings prove beyond doubt the region has always had historical, cultural and political relations with China, rebutting the claims of Western interventionists and the separatist forces in the region. Naturally, some Western media and scholars have not been able to digest the results of the findings at the Mo'er Temple site.

However, the developments will likely help build a theoretical framework for the Chinese nation's unified identity.

The Economist, a publication rooted in the elitist tradition of Victorian Britain which represents Western mainstream values, published an article on July 11, distorting and dismissing the archaeological findings at the Mo'er Temple site and Pan's statements. The article also cited an interview with "Western Xinjiang" expert James Millward to bolster The Economist's critique of China's historical claims, arguing that Xinjiang does not belong to China and that the Mo'er Temple site cannot prove the influence of Chinese culture in the region.

Titled "China is using archaeology as a weapon", the article accused China of using "ancient evidence" to legitimize its sovereignty over Xinjiang. It claimed China's policies in the autonomous region have facilitated "cultural genocide", suppressed Islam, led to the establishment of "concentration camps", and politicized archaeology. These claims are not only misleading but also legally flawed, especially because they mischaracterize archaeology as a tool of "political oppression" and "cultural genocide".

The Western narrative on Xinjiang often advocates for Xinjiang's cultural, ethnic, religious and political "independence", ignoring the influence of Chinese culture and history in the autonomous region. The narrative's aim is to decouple Xinjiang's "diverse" culture from the "unified" culture of China, using the right to self-determination to promote separatist movements. The West's dubious narrative has turned the interpretation of Xinjiang's history and culture into a political battle.

In recent years, projects such as the one to trace the origins of Chinese civilization and study the archaeology along China's borders have challenged Western dominance in Xinjiang-related discourse and academic theories. To counter that, the United States has enacted laws accusing China of running "forced labor" camps and committing "genocide" in Xinjiang, using them to impose sanctions on Chinese entities and products.

Some Western scholars have added fuel to the fire by misinterpreting the archeological findings. Their claim that China is using Xinjiang's archaeological findings, including those at the Mo'er Temple site, as a tool to carry out "cultural genocide" reflects the intense politicization of Xinjiang's real history and culture.

Since the Western claims are devoid of any factual basis, some facts need to be made clear.

First, there is historical evidence of the "weaponization of science" during Western colonialism. The colonial powers built a system of knowledge and disciplines which served their colonial and global ambitions. Western disciplines such as ethnology, religious studies, anthropology and archaeology, driven by Eurocentrism and colonial policies, helped the Western countries to expand their colonies and maintain their dominance across certain regions.

Instead of reflecting on their own history, Western critics target China for its scientific interpretation of Xinjiang's archaeology, because the findings challenge the West's dominant narrative. The fact is, Xinjiang's archaeology is a self-established knowledge system within the framework of Chinese culture, which strengthens the unity and promotes the development of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, instead of perpetrating "cultural genocide" or implementing colonial policies in the region.

Second, Xinjiang's archaeology is a vital part of the comprehensive study of Xinjiang's culture and the construction of a unified Chinese national identity. It is a grand endeavor that requires the participation of scholars that have a scientific spirit, abide by professional ethics, and respect civilizational diversity.

The International Forum on the History and Future of Xinjiang, which was organized in Kashgar in June, was meant to be a scientific event to share the archaeological findings at the Mo'er Temple site and discuss Xinjiang's history and future. Unfortunately, some Western media and scholars stigmatized the entire endeavor, adding a political color to a scientific exercise, thereby challenging the theory of a unified Chinese identity.

The West refuses to accept the progress this theory has made or acknowledge Xinjiang's deep historical, cultural and political relations with China. Yet studying Xinjiang's archaeology has become a new mission for China, especially after the Mo'er Temple site project made groundbreaking discoveries.

Third, the notion of "cultural genocide" is part of the West's ideological and neo-Cold War rhetoric, and an attempt to target Xinjiang's development and smear China's pursuit of national rejuvenation.

Western politicians criticize China's governance policies in Xinjiang, ignoring the real threats extremism, terrorism and separatism pose to the region, while turning a blind eye to the fact that the central government has ensured Xinjiang residents enjoy fundamental human rights and lead a dignified life. They also ignore the institutional progress and socioeconomic achievements Xinjiang has made due to the central government's policies. In fact, it is shocking to see Western scholars distorting the results of the findings at the Mo'er Temple site and taking Pan's statements out of context to target him.

It is the Western colonial powers that committed "cultural genocide" in the countries they occupied in the past. People in scores of non-Western countries have suffered the atrocities committed by the Western colonial powers. The sufferings of Native Americans, the Mayan people, the Incas and the Aztecs, African tribes, and the people in Asian and African countries during colonial rule make it clear that the Western colonial powers used cultural genocide as a tool to subjugate indigenous people in their own countries. In contrast, China's peaceful, inclusive and development-oriented cultural policy has strengthened Chinese cultural unity.

And fourth, the Western accusation that China promotes Buddhism while suppressing Islam is unfounded. In reality, thanks to China's policy of seeking unity in diversity, both Buddhism and Islam have undergone Sinicization in China, while contributing to and benefiting from Chinese culture.

The US-led West's claim that China is suppressing Islam is baseless. Pan emphasized the "exchange and integration between Confucianism and Islam", saying the Sinicization and achievements of Islam in China and the harmonious coexistence of different religious cultures in Xinjiang can all be attributed to the inclusiveness of Chinese culture.

Even after this, if the US-led West continues to peddle baseless anti-China theories, it will end up pulling the mask off its face.

The author is associate dean of the Law School at Minzu University of China.