Turkey says relations with China deteriorated over Uyghur issue

ISTANBUL — Turkey has seen its relations with China deteriorate, its top diplomat said, attributing the deterioration to Ankara’s determination not to extradite Turkish Uyghur dissidents to China.

While some have called the statement an election stance aimed at showing the government is committed to defending its fellow Turkish Muslims, the sensitive issue could potentially create a new rift between Beijing and Ankara.