Yunan security officials announced on Thursday that about 553 extremists have been caught travelling to join the war in the Middle East and up to 852 people have been apprehended trying to enter China illegally since 2014, China Daily reported.

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The announcement comes as authorities are attempting to stem the flow of Uighur Muslims out of the country. According to Reuters, hundreds of Chinese Muslims have migrated from the country over the past few years to Turkey to reportedly flee religious oppression.

But Chinese authorities have denied violating the fundamental religious rights of the country's Muslim population. Recently, the Ministry of Public Security announced that extremist groups are attempting to radicalize Muslims in the country and facilitate their journey to join the jihadist movement in the Middle East. The ministry further accused Turkish officials in several Southeast Asian countries of facilitating the activities of these illegal recruitment gangs.

Dong Jailu, a top official in the Yunan Provincial Public Security Department, said an investigation by the provincial police discovered that foreign "forces" facilitated the radicalization and illegal migration of Chinese Muslims to Syria to fight in the war. Since 2014, Yunan security officials have reportedly recorded over 260 cases of illegal border activity and prevented up to 132 attempts to cross the country's border.

Yunan, which borders, Laos, Vietnam and Burma, is regarded a preferred route for many people who want to leave or enter the country illegally.

Besides dealing with the illegal flow of people out of the country, Chinese authorities are also wary of extremists returning to the country after participating in war in the Middle East. Hundreds of Chinese Muslims are believed to have joined terrorist organizations and participated in the war in Syria and other parts of the Middle East. The Ministry of Public Security has revealed that many such returnees have attempted to expand terrorist networks in the country. Police say they have arrested several returnees and uncovered numerous terrorist plots this year.

TagsYunan Province Illegal Border Activity, Uighur Muslims Jihadi, Uighur Muslim Militants, China Anti-Terrorism, Yunan Anti-Terrorism