Muslim Identity in Contemporary China Through the Lens of Chinese Nationalism

This article focuses on the concept of Chinese nationalism as a building and unifying tool of the nation. The Uyghurs are taken as a Muslim representative ethnic group in China as its forced Sinicization is the focus of global discussion, and the contention between the Uyghurs and the China state has become an international problem and a political headache for Beijing. This primarily Muslim group is one of the most numerous ethnic minorities in China, and has been affected by the assimilation policies adopted by the Chinese authorities with the purpose of strengthening the Chinese nation-state. The rise of national spirit in Chinese youth is unquestionable. Nation building has succeeded in almost all provinces. Only in a few of them does the state have to launch special educational and ideological programs, and sometimes resort to coercion to be successful. The aim of this article is to demonstrate that the Chinese nation building project is not complete despite the great efforts of the authorities.