in the 19th century, russian settlers on traditional kirghiz land drove a lot of the kirghiz over the border to china, causing their population to increase in china. compared to russian controlled areas, more benefits were given to the kirghiz on the chinese controlled areas. russian settlers fought against the nomadic kirghiz, which led the russians to believe that the kirghiz would be a liability in any conflict against china. the muslim kirghiz were sure that in an upcoming war, that china would defeat russia.