Needless to say, the economy takes precedence over humanitarian considerations. In recent years, the Turkish economy has profited by the new Chinese markets, just as it needs direct Chinese investments in its own economy. These exchanges are heavily imbalanced in China’s favour and hamper Turkey’s economic sovereignty. The country finds itself woven into the meshes of the new Chinese strategy dubbed “belt and road project’s (or new silk route) determining its new policy of openness to the world. The importance of this initiative for Turkey was shown by the fact that President Erdoğan in person attended its inaugural forum in May 2017. In the eyes of the Turkish power structure, the recently completed Bakou-Tbilissi-Kars railway, three Bosphorus bridges and the new Istanbul airport are elements of this new silk road. Also, the fact that it has had to diversify its economic partners in view of the cooling of its relations with its traditional allies, Europe and the United States, Turkey cannot afford any sharp criticisms of China’s policies towards the Uyghurs, close though these are by blood and by religion.
https://orientxxi.info/magazine/the-...or-turkey,3332