THE CHINESE POPULATION OF SINKIANG

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000600030248-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 2, 2011
• Sequence Number: 248
• Publication Date: November 24, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

l,IP1-1\Vr 25X1
: ? A St ATION C~~ORF.CDIENTIAL ~~~~
CE~TTRAL~iELLIGLNENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY Chi a ~S1xkJaug 3 ovince)
SUBJECT ThA
Chf r e__ n._..,
.-- .~j.?uia~1PIA 02 zilnKiang
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED BY SOURCE
DATE OF IMMWATION
REPORT NO.
CD NO.
DATE DISTR.cU4 Nov
NO OF PAGES 3
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
1. ~blP 1.. 4401r41ne3 The ^
bered 202 2 ~niaeee po~ttlstian of Sinkiang, according to a 19y1 evr?
isese 2 erok ,the,ldoelem?it.'Leov er4% of the total- population. To dietinguiab the
and he Tungans Vii. g"A, the , .he ihinese in Sinkiang are called an
2. A1tATP ei? Lw (`h{..rte { a ? ,
area which is ach oaZled 3'H The first. reaarn or Chinese
ants Chimp acre than a a z>.ry nag (NO., Fxon,;st. vas peaett~ation into the
woomplishsd bV a Chinas noble,
of pli-F. (Western Tnri ) e Christ. 8e was sent To spy out the secrets
bulb" am that ao lbperas ilhe ?ti of the &n Dynasty. Out of the one
ul " u that aancRtaot with &gurg on this mission only two am returned. P that
8in?riang have lntaraittylat'.y fied saw", ss n~e ontiranVt oeped. The Chinese is
area, but not as ootonisess vbfo d'sp1& , the Mast popwia. r
purity, id Ia bo%rm UUWC, that
ar~ eesionel saldieacs they ragatned an alien aiaarita made up of traders,. 444 !sisal .d1.s. The first two oat,gcries, in cost oasis,
ooaid not long bear the alien s x .lnkiang and returned to thy. homeland
W dsaappeared in savige 1KosLaa ase? . Those that could not reium to hr r
haso1asds, the .la, !lilt valley :itiss and vslre in time Joined
who were IF ys,a trop the central provinoec because of a
abwt&p of their wml lam W.
As thee. asila~s iaoress.d in maaber others found it awi.e~r to mmi-m 14 `,no l ?
in the course of tips, the Chinese population inoraaeed. P~ tho time of the first
Ohi,neo. penetration, and especially during the IwWw rule
land to which both Political and orininal ensiles were ban'.ihed was used as a
his the e ftm lmi" war 1862 X874 the great 3mame geoseal Too ~ tt~ led
his frf vops a oenat o d1
h des rtre fees the revolt of the ?balsas, led by Takub .
The of 81=0 land in these provisoes was s~oarj , saw of h" ftm1ft kleras __
after the oaspietion of the downwo and
? ' Some become landowners aid ottiof
oial. the
CLARItInnATirtu
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'71 EE~~
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provincial government. in whict they exercised such dominating influence that
Sinkiang became kr.cvm as ? "Hi:x_s.ue;,v .:;torus", General Isola expeditionary
force was accompanied by large nuunbere of Tientsin merchants who sold to the
army an route and then eettl.wi down in SinLi not__ .
-----~-?6. -.au they perished by the
way, sometimes they wage robbed and murdered,, but the instinct of trade
triumphed over every difficulty. They were later joined by their families,
so that Tientsin traders soon appeared throughout the urban centers of Sinkiang.
Once the traders had opened up the country,. migration on a larger scale began.
Sanau, Shensi; Shansi, Siechwan were overcrowded and the surplus population
slowly flowed to the west.
During the rule of G~verno- Yang Treng.hsin (1911. to 7 Jul 28) many of his fellow
provincials from Yunnan came to Sinkiang to get aboard the "gravy train". Despite
this fact, his seventeen years of reign were referred to in Sinkiang as "The Period
of Golden Rule". ,D=ing this period Sinkiang became known, in other parts of China,
as The Earthly Paradise". After the eusassination of Governor Yang, Chin Shit-jen
became Governor of Sinkiang (7 Jul 28 to 12 Apr 33) and was followed by men from
Saneu. Later some 10.000 Chinese troops from Manchuria, interned in Siberia
when they had retreated after fighting against the Japanese, were repatriated
by the Soviet Union to Sinkiang after General Shang Shih-taai, a native of Manchuria,
became Governor (12 Apr 33 to 2 Sep 44). Governor Sh rs reign of terror and
oppression ended when he was replaced by Wu Chung-hair (2 Sep 44 to July 1946).
In this year refugees from the Honan famine were transported into Sinkiang and
settled on land that was expropriated from the Baaakhs. Governor Wu was replaced
by General Chang Chita-chu.G (July 1946 to 31 May 47). The next Governor of
31nk'sng was Meseud Sabri (31 May 4" to December 1948); the first "native" Governor
of Sinkiang. He wee a U ghos leader whose Chinese name is Masu Wu-tab. Messud
Sabri was replaced in December 1943 by ii kb n Shahidi. a Russian Tat.: who had
bean a man of infl.Lence in Sinkiang since Teariet times. He was Governor on
29 Sep 49 when Sinkiang made a fi?mal declaration of adherence to the Communist
regiae. In the 1ae? yeas of the Miucmingtar,g rrile in Sinkiang there were over
100 thousand Neti.onaiia+ -?oopa a'ati;ned there.
3. jdMgi4g,43 The ma.joci'.y of Chinese in 6inkiang speak the Mandarin dialect of the
Chiapse language. Apart from the official class, the Chinese in Sinkiang appear
to be no lose illiterate than those in the rest of Chine,
4. ,jje1igtpgx The Chinese in Sinkiang have remained Buddhists and in that reapeeti
have throe other minority "races" as their allies, the Manchus, Siboe and Solon..
These fou.? peoples are all. Confucian-Buds,siet-Taoist in religion and hu ber
214,601 people,, or 5,7% of the total population. The Mongols, who are Lanz
Buddhist., total 63,010- err 1.5% of the population, The White H6seians, who are
cheek Orthodox, total 13:?408 people and comprise only .36% of the population.
The $ hammedan., on the other hand total 3,439,024, or 92.22% of thn total
population of Sinkiang,
5. jays The Chinese in Sinkiang have retained their customary manner of drone
and do not dress there any differently than they do in the large coastal cities.
6? e . to +w"?s Since the Chinese are a very small minority in Sinkiang they
do not constitute a majority population in any given area of the province. The
Chinese culture in Sinkiang, Zovever, centers around thumehi (Tiha), the e.pitil.
There are also large numbers of Chinon, in most northern cities; espaaislly Qdi
(Qamrl), Euohsngtae Ungar].), Tn,,.,ija yIaing) acrd Chuguo;.ak CT..ta hengi. South or
the Tien Sham range there are very few Chinese, only a handful residing in crush
of the major cities. An sortrate method iy which to doi,araine if there are
Chinese residing in any Sinkiang city, or village, is to learn whether there is
a brerery or pork butcher's shop there..
jhwjk&We The Chinese live either In farmsteads coattered in the fields or
in apart;ents which range along the narrow streets of oarsa towne and cities.
Thais bows. are oonatructed of mud and brick and are very much like those of
the IIighurs, .ith the exception that the roof is flat and projects beoni the
DO.yFIDBl1 W/SBCURITZ III OPJJATION
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walls and they do not have chimneys, Thr Chinese !n Sinkiang use coke in
their r in-door, shallow, open pits which arc used for cooking and also in the
Ong". The kang is a large, low, flat, brick furnace which i_
mini and straw mattes and used by all the members of the family to cove.
usually no furniture in the single-room house, the floors being covered
with straw matting,
8. alas The Chinese are considered, by the other peoples of Siakisag
an:extrmely light eatera_ Their ?ii et .V -l_a_ , of 80% cereal, . 10% vegetables. The foods that they veatare identical to those leeaaten meat and
by Chinese
in other provinces.
9. OQQ4na.iM8 All the Chinese who came to Sinkiang were industrious to begin
with, however, with increasing prosperity some of the exiles fell victims of
the opium habit. Those from Shensi, Shansi and Kansu are said to be most addict
to opium and mazy of than allowed the vice to obtain so terrible a hold that
they ceased to labor and are content to sink into poverty, The emigrants from
Tientsin became the wealthy and influential classes in the oommunitieq.,,They
were both industrious and honest so that in time all local business centered
around them. Theirs was principally a commerce in tea, silk and spices and
the commodities for which these things were exchanged were furs, skins, jade
and rare metals. The Han Chinese became mainly the administrators, soldiers,
traders, businessmen and shopkeepers. The Chinese who reside there now divide
sharply along provincial lines as to their occupations. Hunanese and men from
the lower Yangtze Valley have long formed the bureaucratic elite, Tientsin men
hold the strongest position in trade, Shansi man control the camel caravans
carrying-goods between Sinkiang and North China and are particularly known as
money-lenders, Hunan and Hopen men are dealers in brick tea and Kansu Province
has been the principal source of farming colonists.
1C. 4aneral Preh'WWR Tbq position of the Chinese in Sinkiang h
one. The Chinese have always been a small minority, only 5.4% been a curious
population in 191.1. A;'1i Moslem religious uprisings ?hi of ef the total
.. uiusl allies, the White Russians, Mongals~ Manohue,, Si bee the and Chinese and hair
felonsp et:.L,
only oompribwf 7.73% of the total population of Sinkiang. Tat. instead of
fallewiag a program of attempting to minimise the differences between the
serious peoples of Sinkiang and ariting them under a daaooratio form of govern-
, they nave ignored the wishes or the majority and have ruled by opprossio:,
erseoatioi, tarok, v and f:aL:d. The reallocation of land belonging bt% Sinkiang
satires" for the py,:poae of including Chinese "outlandtars" has long beat a
eash srbjsct. The result has been that the Moslem peoples off Sinkiang, with
passing you, have loaned to ever increasingly resent the Chines, nd ority
role and have become more nationalistic and desirous oP autonomy from China.
The Chiaese mule in Sinkiang bas been especially poor and, corrupt because the
provincial administrators have considered the son-Chinese as simple "natives"
and also because of Sink-leaeo remoteness from the capital of China ad thus
higher authwity. The Chinese ofrioirls stationed there have not engaged in
the defense of old vested interests, but in the acquisition of new personal
interests, wealth and power. This atticudaf an the part of the officials,
kes?osesedunrest and cost many innocent Chinese lives during the frequent
bloody Moslem massacres.
OwilmLL/3gCi>RITY I TICN
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600030248-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/0
iauy orw, untl ~ Iii UltMBl'lUli
walls and they do not have chimneys, The Chinese in Sinkiang use coke in
their in-door, shallow. open pits which are used for cooking and also in the
'kang'. The Yang is a large, low, flat, brick furnace which in
..,.....mob'..,,,.
mum and straw matting and used by all the members of the family to sleep ~upon?
There is usually no furniture in the single-room house, the floors being covered
with straw matting.
8. liatiyg R-hitas The Chinese are considered, by the other peoples of Sihkiaag
an.-extremely light astern. Their aie+ _ a
10% vegetables. The foods that theyveatvare identical to those eaten byaChinese
in other provinces.
9? -at,fls All the Chinese who came to Sinkiang were industrious to begin
with, however, with increasing prosperity acme of the exiles fell victims of
the opium habit. Those from Shensi,, Shansi and Kansu are said to be most addict
to opium and many of them allowed the vice to obtain so terrible a hold that
they ceased to labor and are content to sink into poverty. The emigrants from
Tientsin became the wealthy and influential classes in the oammuaitieip, They
were both industrious and honest so that in time all local business can around them. Theirs was principally a commerce in tea, silk and spices and
the commodities for which these things were exchanged were furs, akkine, jade
and rare metals. The Han Chinese became
mainly traders, businesamen and shopkeepers. The Chinese ewhhom reside there now divide
sharply along provincial lines as to their occupations. Hunanese and men fr-
the lower Yangtae Valley have long formed the bureaucratic elite, Ticntsin men
hold the strongest position in trade, Shansi men control the camel caravans
carrying-goods between Sinkiang and North China and are particularly kpown as
mono -lenders, Hunan and Hopen men are dealers in brick tea and Kano Province
has been the principal source of farming colonists.
-0? ~rnar l rrohi...g The position of the Chinese in Sinkiang has been a curious
one. The Chinese have always been a small minority, only 5.4% of the total
population in 1941. Poring Moslem religious uprisings the Chinese and their
usual-allies, the White Russians, Mongols, I4nohus, Sibes and Solnns, still
only comprised 7.78% of the total population of Sinkiang, Yet, instead'of
following a program rf attempting to the differenoos between the
various peoples of Sinkiang and uniting them under a democratic form of govera-
2emt. they have ignored the wishes of the majority and have ruled ty oppression,
persooution; t.rleke,7 and fraud. The reallocation of land belonging be Sinkiang
"natives" f0 the purpose ci including Chinese -'outlanCers' has long beatouoby subject. The result has been that the Moslem peoples of Sfakiatgf with
Saab passing yens, have learned to ever increasingly resent the Chinese minority
rals and have become more nationalistic and desirous of autonomy from China.
The 0ldaess rule in Sinkiang ham been especially poor and oca?rntpt because the
provincial ada:aistrators have considered the non-Chines, as simple "natives"
and also Seoaure of Sinkiang's remoteness from the capital of China and We
higher authority. The Chinese officials stationed there have not engaged is
Us defame of old vested !interest,, but in the acquisition of new personal
interests, wealth and power. This attitude. an the part of the officials,
Mi.oaresd most and coat many innocent Chinese lives during the frequent
bloody Moslem massacres.
CONF'ID1rI&4/SNCDRITr INPCSMLTICN
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