[SMH] Turkey's president arrived in Beijing on Tuesday eager to highlight trade and investment between the two countries, including the purchase of a Chinese surface-to-air missile system. But his visit risked being overshadowed by growing tensions over the diplomatic assistance Turkey is extending to the Uighur population of China.A recent Reuters report exposed the apparent practice of Turkish diplomatic officials in south-east Asia, particularly in Malaysia, to furnish Uighurs with travel documents allowing them to avoid deportation.
Beijing has also been angered by demonstrations in Istanbul and Ankara where Turkish and Uighur protesters burned the Chinese flag outside the country's embassy and consulates. The demonstrations were in response to reports that Uighurs were banned from observing Ramadan.
Turkey's foreign ministry issued a statement saying reports of Uighurs "banned from fasting and fulfilling other acts of worship have been received with sadness by the Turkish public opinion."