Opinion: Dilnur Reyhan - China’s Propaganda Tour Hits Resistance in Paris
A look at the failure of China's policy of normalizing the Uyghur genocide in the West from the "Xinjiang Delegation's" Paris visit
Uyghurs from the European Uyghur Institute Demonstrate in front of the ‘Paris Academy of Geopolitics’ protesting the “Xinjiang Delegation’s” whitewashing of the Uyghur Genocide on December 3, 2025
On December 3rd of this year, French President Emmanuel Macron set off on a visit to China. This was his fourth visit to China since 2017. Like the previous ones, his main objectives were twofold: asking China to try to stop Russia from bombing Ukraine, and even stop supporting Russia, and to reduce at least a little the trade imbalance between France and China, which has been completely in China’s favor for over 40 years. Although Macron received a very high and extraordinary reception, just like last time, Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping continued to ignore Macron’s demands.
On the same day, a private academic organization called the “Paris Academy of Geopolitics” organized an afternoon lecture on the topic of “Economic, Social and Cultural Development of Xinjiang”, which was to be delivered by a “Xinjiang Delegation” specially appointed by the Chinese government. The academy’s website did not provide any information about this, but through private channels, it sent out special invitations to some individuals just two days before the event. Some people who received this sent it to the European Uyghur Institute.
English Translation of Invitation provided by Dilnur Reyhan
Invitation to the International ConferenceDecember 3 at 2:30 p.m.
Paris Academy of Geopolitics
5, rue Conté 75003 Paris
The Paris Academy of Geopolitics is pleased to invite you to an exceptional conference dedicated to the economic, social, and cultural dynamics of Xinjiang, which will be held on December 3 at 2:30 p.m.
This event will welcome an official delegation from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, who have come specifically to participate in this scientific and cultural exchange.
Keynote Speaker
• Mr. Li Jianxin, Professor of Sociology at Peking University, Presentation: Analysis of the Economic and Social Development of Xinjiang.
Head of Delegation
• Ms. Kulan Sayfukhan, Director of the Information Office of the Xinjiang People’s Government.
Originally from the Kazakh community, she is a leading figure in Chinese academic and administrative circles. Former president of Ili Normal University, she played a major role in establishing doctoral programs, developing international research platforms, and organizing large-scale scientific forums.
In her current role, she works to promote intercultural dialogue, value the ethnic and cultural diversity of Xinjiang, and highlight the region’s social and economic transformations within the framework of Chinese civilization.
Members of the delegation:
- Mr. Li Jianxin, Professor of Sociology, Keynote Speaker
- Ms. Kulan Sayfukhan, Head of Delegation
- Mr. Asanjon Ablyz, Professor of History and Society at Xinjiang Normal University
- Mr. Wei Chao, Professor at the China Border Studies Institute
- Ms. Li Hua, Assistant Professor at Ili Normal University
- Ms. Mei Yining, Research Officer at the State Council’s Communication Office
After we became aware of this, we investigated what kind of place this institution was. Founded in 2005, closed twice, and reopened for the third time just two years ago, the central committee of this private education and research institute is made up entirely of old men, including professors who are either retired or close to retirement, representing the old ideological era. The institution’s X account, also in the personal name of its president, has not been updated since early March. This means that this institution is not a credible, ethical think tank. Of course, hosting a group organized by a government like China and arranging for it to report on it is not something an independent, ethical academic structure would do.
The answer of the European Uyghur Institute
We tried to register according to the link provided in the invitation to this conference, which was organized to justify and normalize the genocide that the Chinese government has been committing in East Turkistan for nearly a decade. However, the detail of the information requested on the registration page, in large part, suggests that their goal is not to interest people from outside, but rather to target specific individuals. So, led by poet Merdan Ehetali at the institute, three people arrived in front of the building before the conference began and tried to disrupt this Chinese propaganda game at outside.
Merdan carrying the blue flag, in front of the gate of the building where this report was to be held, shouted slogans in Uyghur, Chinese, and English demanding China’s withdrawal from East Turkistan and the end of Chinese colonialism at the “Xinjiang delegation” who had arrived and the Chinese embassy staff in Paris who had accompanied them, and made these colonialists unable to even raise their heads. Gulbahar Jalilova, a camp survivor who was also with Merdan, also shouted along.
Very few people came to the conference, less than ten in total. These participants, who can be counted on the fingers of one hand, also entered the room and left shortly after, telling our group that they too knew the motives behind such a propaganda lecture. So, China’s spending a lot of money to find a research institute that would listen to their words, gathering a special group of professors and bringing them from Urumchi, broadcasting their words to five or six people in the conference room of a small, unknown research institute in Paris, and then having them come out and accuse the Chinese government of propaganda, once again proves that China’s policy of normalizing genocide, which it has been implementing since the beginning of 2023, is still completely failing in Europe. Moreover, although only two or three people from the European Uyghur Institute came to demonstrate, the fact that they could shout in their ears that China is a colonial power, and to look them in the eye and wave our blue flag, made them feel the bitter reality that China’s efforts had been completely thwarted.
Strengthening the policy of normalizing genocide in East Turkistan
From a lengthy analysis published in the French-language “Intelligence Online” on December 3, we can clarify the background to this delegation, who organized it, and why it was arranged for this conference to be sent to France on the very day Macron’s visit in China. The article claims that this “Xinjiang delegation” to Paris is not an ordinary academic lecture exchange, but a group directly organized by the Chinese Central Political Bureau in Beijing to re-establish China’s image in Europe. The aim is to test in Europe the impact of its new policy, completely abandons the autonomy policy of 1984 which has been subtly modified and replaced it by “ethnic unity.”
Due to the genocide committed against the Uyghurs at the hands of Chen Quanguo since 2016, China completely tarnished its diplomatic image internationally, especially since it has become very aware of its isolation from the Western world. The solution they have found to remedy this situation is to normalize (the article describe it as “invisibilisation”) the ongoing Uyghur genocide. But how?
According to the “Intelligence Online”, the internal Chinese term for this normalization is “permitted folklore”, and over the past two to three years, the number of Uyghurs has increased significantly in major Chinese cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. These are mainly in restaurants, bakeries, and small businesses, and these businesses have been specifically funded by the Chinese government. At the same time, however, there are no places for Uyghur intellectuals, and universities are increasingly closing their doors to Uyghurs. In other words, the Chinese government’s ultimate goal is to eliminate the poets, thinkers, and professors of this nation, leaving only a group of obedient people who are grateful for the opportunity to make a little money, willing to forget their national identity, and who are not only silent but also grateful.
Panic in Chinese government institutions in East Turkistan
According to the “Intelligence Online”, not only the “Xinjiang” government apparatus, but the entire central Chinese political and government structure is currently in a serious crisis due to the Uyghur genocide question. This anxiety began with an academic conference held at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology on August 20 of this year specifically on the “Xinjiang issue.” At this conference, not only foreign researchers, but also Chinese scholars openly criticized the Chinese government’s Uyghur policy. Although some foreign scholars known for their pro-CCP views also attended the conference, some researchers interviewed by the “Intelligence Online” said that China’s propaganda on the Uyghur issue is currently in full swing, and that the CCP is desperately looking for new voices abroad.
One of the most important points highlighted in the article is the complete disappearance of Ma Xingrui, who replaced Qin Quanguo in the Uyghur Autonomous Region in 2021, from the stage for several months. According to a report obtained by the “Intelligence Online”, Ma Xingrui, who is trying to maintain his political career, is relying on his closeness to Xi Jinping’s wife, Peng Liyuan, and an attempt to denounce Qin Quanguo’s crimes. But no new official has been appointed to replace him. Another high-ranking official missing from the stage is Chinese Vice President Han Jing, and it is clear that the Uyghur issue has become a major issue that is plaguing China’s central State apparatus, claiming the article.
Conclusion
Whether it’s this “Xinjiang delegation’s” rat-like conference in Paris, or China’s reckless purchase of online influencers, politicians and journalists, or most importantly, “opening the door” to Uyghurs in the diaspora, as the “Intelligence Online” puts it, all of this shows that China is desperately searching for people to cover up its genocide crimes that have been going on for nearly a decade, while simultaneously promoting its policy of normalizing genocide, but these efforts are not yielding the expected results.
From this, we Uyghurs, regardless of our ideology, beliefs, or affiliations, can conclude three important points:
First, the fact that China, one of the world’s two superpowers, continues to lose ground in propaganda despite investing billions, and that the Uyghur diaspora, despite being so small, is still able to do its best to maintain the Western media, academia, and even politicians with the truth (Uyghurs) - that is, to wage a David-versus-Goliath battle. This is a point that gives us great hope.
Second, for nearly three years, China has focused all of its diplomacy on normalizing the Uyghur genocide and trying to bring people and institutions to justice in every field, but all attempts have failed. If there is one point that is being won, it is the result of the trap it has set for the Uyghur diaspora. The Uyghurs who are now returning to their homeland to see their parents after nearly a decade without contact, responding to China’s “opening the door”, is the only victory of this policy. It is the result of China’s “roasting its own flesh in its own skin” tactic.
Finally, The turmoil at China’s central political level, the inability to appoint the head of the autonomous region, and the fact that the Uyghur issue has become the most fundamental issue in China’s foreign policy should be a source of hope and encouragement for the entire Uyghur diaspora. It is important to remember that any people who struggle against colonialism will achieve freedom. The question is stopping the struggle for any reason. However, China’s goal is also to completely divide the entire diaspora over this issue. Therefore, all members of the diaspora, regardless of how different our ideologies are, it is an important part of our struggle for independence that we do not allow China to get in the way of our goals because of this issue, and that we do not become divided because of this.
More about the author:
Dr. Dilnur Reyhan is a sociologist, senior researcher at the Oriental Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), working on the project Migration and Us: Mobility, Refugees, and Borders from the Perspective of the Humanities (reg. no. CZ.02.01.01/00/23_025/0008741), implemented at the Institute of Czech Literature of the CAS, co-funded by the European Union. She is also the founder president of the European Uyghur Institute.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of Kashgar Times
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