Domestic Political Drivers and Chinese Diplomacy: Xinjiang and Counter-Terrorism in South Asia

This article seeks to provide an answer to the question: in the new millennium, why did China continue to block India's (and other countries') attempts to designate Pakistani citizens as terrorists under UNSC 1267 committee rules? According to the extant literature, China's actions are explained by India-China rivalry and India-Pakistan rivalry resulting in an "all-weather" strategic partnership between China and Pakistan against their mutual enemy India. However, the article argues that China's actions are also explained by its concerns regarding terrorism/extremism/splittism in Xinjiang and the role of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM)/Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) which threatens its national unity and territorial integrity. China is wary that the listing of Pakistani citizens as terrorists under the UNSC 1267 rules will lead to instability in Pakistan (and Afghanistan), which will provide a breeding ground for terrorists of all forms and colors including the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS/IS/Daesh). Daesh is a bane for China because it has links with ETIM/TIP and in recent years Uyghurs have also joined Daesh.