This bachelor's thesis aims to examine the Uyghur ethnic group predominantly living in the Chinese province of Xinjiang and its role in forming the relations between the Republic of Turkey and the People's Republic of China. It will describe the basic features of this ethnoreligious group and its status within China. Thereafter, the thesis will explain Turkey's policy towards foreign "kin" groups, defined religiously (predominantly Sunni Muslim) or ethnolinguistically (Turkic). The thesis will explore how the Uyghurs fit within the "kin nation" framework for Turkey and how that determines Turkey's policy towards China and Sino-Turkish relations. The questions examined by the thesis will include whether the Uyghurs are more of a "bridge of understanding" between the two countries or a source of conflict; in what aspects of relationship of the two countries do the Uyghurs play a role; what determines the perceived inconsistency of Turkish support for the Uyghur minority; what is the difference in Turkey's stance towards the Uyghurs as opposed to other "kin groups".