Ma Hu-shan

Ma Hu-shan (Ma Huzhan) was the close relative and follower of the previous independentist Dungan leader Ma Chung-ying. He himself attempted to organize an independent nation, called "Tunganistan", possibly with the support of certain Axis Powers during 1937.

Ma Hu-shan and the Tunganistan nation

Following this truce, Ma Hu-shan, Ma Chung-ying's brother-in-law, set up what was called by one Western observer "Tunganistan," "a Tungan satrapy where Hui Muslims ruled as colonial masters over their Turkic-speaking Muslim subjects." This state within a state, with its capital in Khotan, was loyal to Nanking and remained in power until 1937. Neither Islamic, as the TIRET (Turkish Islamic Republic of East Turkestan) had been, nor pro-Soviet, as Sheng Shicai's government was, it was rather an example of the warlordism prevalent in Republican China at the time. The regime was characterised by autocratic rule, Chinese colonialism, strong militarism, and excessive taxation. As a Western observer noted at the time, "The whole aim of the government is to provide the military with the necessary money and supplies, while the needs of the people are entirely disregarded."

Japanese and German agents were present with the purpose of advising the newest "independent" administration in Kashgar to attempt to find independence.

Ma Hu-shan received telegrams, ostensibly from his brother-in-law in the USSR, promising the leader of Tunganistan that Ma Chung-ying would soon return, thus stalling him in any move he might make against Sheng's forces. "Beneath this continuing Soviet deception lay a deeper stratum of diplomatic and military purpose, for by 1937, when Ma Hu-shan seems finally to have despaired of Ma Chung-ying's return to Sinkiang, Soviet control had been firmly established over Sheng Shih-ts'ai, whilst the military inactivity of the Tungan armies had undermined the very fabric of 'Tunganistan' from within. " As early as 1935, there were Uyghur uprisings and a Dungan mutiny in "Tunganistan," evidence of the unstable nature of the warlord's domain.

Final attempt at independence in Sinkiang

In April, 1937, another attempt to establish an independent Muslim administration was set up. As before, this revolt had an Islamic nature. At the same time, uprisings broke out amongst the Kyrgyz near Kucha and once again in Kumul. Ma Hu-shan decided to move from Khotan, and captured Kashgar from the rebels in June. The situation, however, did not last long.

Five thousand Red Army troops with airborne and armoured vehicle reinforcements were already on their way to southern Sinkiang at Sheng's request, along with Sheng's forces and mutinous Dungan troops. The Turkic rebels were defeated, Kashgar was retaken, and Ma Hu-shan's administration collapsed. By October, 1937, with the collapse of the Turkic rebellion and the Dungan "satrapy," Muslim control of the south once again came to an end. The rebellions in Kumul and amongst the Kyrgyz were quelled, thus establishing Sheng, for the first time, as the ruler of the province.

References

*Mark Dickens. "The Soviets in Sinkiang (1911- 1949)", USA, 1990

External links

* [http://crwflags.com/fotw/flags/cn-islam.html Flags of Independence]
* [http://oxuscom.com/sovinxj.htm The Soviets in Xinjiang (1911-1949) by Mark Dickens]