How did communist authorities seek minority support in the Shaan-Gan-Ning border region?

During the Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), communist authorities in the Shaan-Gan-Ning border region sought to secure the support of ethnic minorities by formally proclaiming their cultural and political rights.1

This strategy was part of the broader efforts by the Chinese Communist Party to build a united front and consolidate control in the northwest. By emphasizing these rights, the communists aimed to win over local populations, including the Hui people, who had historically maintained a distinct identity separate from mainstream Chinese society and were often under the influence of local Muslim warlords, such as the Ma clan.1

While these appeals successfully persuaded some Hui leaders to join the communist cause and attain positions of influence within the regional government, the majority of the Hui population in Ningxia continued to support the Ma clan until the People’s Liberation Army ultimately secured control of the region through military victory.1