Major Chinese project that signals Beijing's deepening ties with Turkey

The announcement that Chinese car giant BYD will build a multibillion-dollar factory in Turkey marks a major turning point in relations between the two countries. The announcement comes after years of tensions over Ankara's support for China's Uighur minority. As Voice of America correspondent Dorian Jones reports, the two countries are finding more and more common ground, not only on economic issues, but also diplomatic ones.

In July, Chinese car giant BYD signed a deal to build a multibillion-dollar factory in Turkey. The plant will produce 150,000 vehicles per year, mainly for the European Union market.

Analysts say the deal marks a turning point in Turkish-Chinese relations.

"This agreement can reduce Turkey's trade deficit. For China, the agreement is also important because products made in Turkey will be exempt from tariffs due to the fact that Turkey has an agreement with the European Union on customs," says Sibel Karabel, director of the Asia-Pacific department at Gedik University in Istanbul. .

Analysts say the plan for the plant is a way to avoid new EU tariffs on Chinese vehicles. They say the new investment also marks a change in Beijing's policy after years of shunning investment in Turkey.

"There is no Chinese investment in Turkey because China sees Turkey as a country with high political risk in the region," says Ceren Ergenc, an expert on China at the Center for European Policy Studies.

That is changing now, and some members of the Uyghur minority are worried that Turkey is abandoning them.

Ankara has been critical of Beijing's crackdown on the predominantly Muslim Uyghur minority. Turkey has offered refuge to many Uyghurs. Analysts say Uyghur dissidents fear the billion-dollar Chinese investment in Turkey may have been part of a deal reached during Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's recent visit to China.

"There are speculations that the Chinese side is pushing for the ratification of the extradition agreement, demanding that the Uyghurs sheltered in Turkey, at least some of them, return to face trials in China," says Cagdas Ungor from the University of Marmara.

Others say China's shift in policy toward Turkey, a NATO member, could be part of a growing race, especially with the United States, for global influence.

Analysts say Ankara and Beijing are also finding diplomatic common ground, including criticism of Israel's war against Hamas.

"If you look at the Gaza issue at the moment, Turkey and China have a similar position. Their foreign policies are similar while being very different from those of Western countries. Even at the regional level, China seems to be a much better partner than Western countries", says analyst Cagdas Ungor.

Ankara welcomed Beijing's welcome to Palestinian leaders in July. Israel's war is in danger of escalating, and analysts say that this could bring China even closer to Turkey./VOA