The article discusses the history of Xinjiang, its control, and how it has remained an integral part of China. Here's a revised version:

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Earlier, we discussed how Outer Mongolia gained its independence. A significant reason for this was that the central government never had real control over the region. Without control, it was impossible to cultivate a sense of belonging. Especially during times of political weakness, combined with external interference, secession became an easy outcome.

In a similar vein, there was another region long coveted by foreign powers, and it almost seceded — Xinjiang. Given the recent attention on Xinjiang, the best way to understand the current situation is by looking into its history. The separatist activities surrounding Xinjiang today were already being plotted by Western powers over a century ago. But why did Xinjiang remain a part of China? Let's explore how Xinjiang was preserved.

When we study Xinjiang, we often encounter the phrase \"Zuo Zongtang's recapture of Xinjiang.\" Since it was a \"recapture,\" does it mean it was lost before? How did it get lost, and how was it regained? What happened afterward? Let's trace the history of Xinjiang.

Xinjiang spans 1.66 million square kilometers, roughly one-sixth of China’s total land area, making it the largest provincial-level administrative region. Its history as part of China originates from the term \"Western Regions\" (Xiyu). The modern borders of Xinjiang and the historical Western Regions are not identical, but they largely overlap.

In the Age of Discovery, with European exploration focused on the seas, the “geographical discoveries” of ancient China were focused on land — namely, the Western Regions. China's first contact with this land occurred through Zhang Qian’s mission to the Western Regions during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty in 139 BCE. His mission, originally aimed at forming an alliance against the Xiongnu, lasted 13 years. While he didn’t achieve military alliances, he inadvertently opened up the Western Regions, bringing this vast land into the Central Kingdom’s \"international sphere.\"

The term “international sphere” refers to the numerous states in the Western Regions, collectively known as the \"Thirty-Six States of the Western Regions.\" At their peak, there may have been over 50. Central China, with its stronger and more advanced civilization, attracted these states, many of which became vassals of the Chinese empire. The Han and Tang dynasties set up local administrative offices and military forces in the region, like the modern-day U.S. military bases abroad. These forces were used to maintain \"international order,\" ensure loyalty, and protect trade routes. The expenses for maintaining these forces were covered by the Chinese mainland, so these vassal states were happy to accept protection.

This form of indirect governance, called \"jimi,\" meant that while these small states were nominally subordinate to the central authority, they were essentially self-governed. As long as they pledged allegiance, the central government acknowledged their legitimacy, granted titles, and allowed them to govern as they saw fit. In times of conflict or disaster, the central government would offer assistance.

Had this system continued, the Western Regions would likely have been gradually integrated into the Central Kingdom, eventually becoming formal territories. However, this process was interrupted by the An Lushan Rebellion. The subsequent loss of control over the Western Regions lasted for 951 years, until the Qing dynasty regained control in 1759.

The Qing Dynasty’s conquest of Xinjiang came at the expense of the Zunghar Khanate, the last of the nomadic empires. During the Qing period, a significant amount of turmoil ensued in the region. For instance, the Zunghar Khanate’s leader, Galdan, was a persistent threat to the Qing. After Galdan’s death and the internal turmoil within the Khanate, the Qing launched a military campaign that ultimately reasserted Chinese control over Xinjiang.

Once the region was secured, Qing officials implemented a system of governance that combined military and administrative control. The “Yili General,” for example, was responsible for both military and civil matters in the region. The local leaders, known as \"Berk\" and \"Zhasak,\" were essentially local rulers but still acknowledged the central government’s authority.

The key to maintaining control over Xinjiang was the implementation of the \"jimi\" system, but as the Qing Empire faced increasing internal strife and foreign challenges, the system’s flaws began to emerge. By the 19th century, following the Second Opium War and the Taiping Rebellion, the Qing Dynasty’s hold over Xinjiang was increasingly threatened, with foreign powers, notably Russia and Britain, attempting to take advantage of the region’s instability.

It was during this period of crisis in the 1860s that the region’s control was almost lost again. A rebellion in 1864, combined with foreign intervention from the Khokand Khanate, Russia, and Britain, destabilized the region. However, the Qing, under the leadership of Zuo Zongtang, launched a successful military campaign to reassert control. By 1877, Zuo’s forces had recaptured both the northern and southern parts of Xinjiang, effectively ending the threat posed by these foreign-backed insurgents.

In the aftermath, Zuo Zongtang advocated for a reform of Xinjiang’s governance, ultimately convincing the Qing court to establish a provincial administration in the region, solidifying its place within China. This was a crucial moment in Xinjiang’s history, as it marked the transition from a loosely governed frontier to a fully integrated province.

In conclusion, Xinjiang remained part of China due to a combination of military strength, strategic governance, and the establishment of a formal provincial system. Despite numerous challenges, the region's integration into China was achieved, and its status as part of the nation was firmly established. These efforts ensured that Xinjiang remained under Chinese sovereignty, despite foreign interference and internal conflict.