Article
Article name China’s Border Regionalism: a New Model of Security and Development
Authors Kuchinskaya T.N. Doctor of Philosophy, Associate Professor, Professor of International Law and International Relations Department, KuchinskayaTN@zabgu.ru
Bibliographic description Kuchinskaya T. N. China’s Border Regionalism: A New Model of Security and Development // Transbaikal State University Journal. 2025. Vol. 31, no. 4. P. 74–83. DOI: 10.21209/2227-9245-2025-31-4-74-83.
Category Politology
DOI 327+332.14 (510)
DOI 10.21209/2227-9245-2025-31-4-74-83
Article type Original article
Annotation Border regions, as distinct political spaces, are subjected to the multifaceted influence of socio-cultural processes occurring at national, regional, bilateral, and supranational levels. The analysis of these processes is developing within the interdisciplinary field of Border Region Studies. Specific national practices of borderland development form models of cross-border regionalism. The object of this work is Chinese cross-border regionalism as an objective socio-cultural reality that exerts an influence on neighboring countries. The analysis of the content and practices of Chinese cross-border regionalism acquires theoretical and practical significance in the context of assessing the potentials and limitations of Russian-Chinese cross-border interaction under the conditions of the “Pivot to the East” policy. The key objectives of this work are to describe the factors and conditions shaping Chinese cross-border regionalism, its regulatory framework, and stages of development, as well as to identify the significant characteristics of the new model for the security of China’s border regions. The research is constructed within the framework of a comprehensive methodology for regional border studies. The primary research methods included the analysis of Chinese-language publications on the topic, factorbased and level-based analysis of the new model, and the description of regional practices and socio-economic parameters. A conducted content analysis of the regulatory framework of China’s border region policy and the works of Chinese authors on the research topic has yielded new results. It is revealed that the security of China’s border regions is impacted by a range of internal and external threats and challenges. These include: crossborder territorial disputes, international competition, the accessibility of transport corridors, population outflow from border areas, poverty, illegal migration, and a low level of innovative development and urbanization, among others. In response to these challenges, the construction of a new model of border security is proposed, one that considers theoretical, regulatory, innovation-technological, and anthropological aspects under conditions of new internationality. This new concept revises the role and place of border areas in national development and presents new requirements for border security management. The construction of a new architectonics for spatial development in China’s Northeastern region, as presented in this work, requires further analysis from the perspective of developing Russian-Chinese cross-border and transboundary interaction.
Key words international regional studies, border region, border territory development management, potentials and limitations of border region development, Chinese cross-border regionalism, security of China’s border regions, Russian-Chinese Cross-border cooperation, Transbaikal Region, China’s North-East region, Pivot to the East
Article information
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