| 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 |
|
| References |
1. Morachevskaya KA. Borderland phenomenon: approaches to interpretation and the role of centerperipheral
gradients. Regional Research. 2022;(77):44-53. DOI: 10.5922/1994-5280-2022-3-4. EDN: DFVCIE.
(In Russian)
2. Huasheng Zh. Russia’s pivot to the east and Russian-Chinese relations. Russia and the Pacific.
2025;(2):162-185. Available at: https://clck.ru/3R2r5U (accessed 01.02.2025). (In Russian)
3. Kuchinskaya T. Opened border regionalism in China’s global strategy: lessons for Russia. Chita State
University Journal. 2011;(1):27-34. EDN: NDCART. (In Russian)
4. Sebentzov AB, Lomakina AI. Theory and practice of cross-border regionalization. Lessons for Russia.
Polis. Political Studies. 2025;(2):61-77. DOI: 10.17976/jpps/2025.02.05. EDN: OUSNXK. (In Russian)
5. Sebentzov AB. Cross-border cooperation in the Russian borderlands: in search of new approaches
and forms. Ojkumena. Regional Researches. 2024;(4):11-25. DOI: 10.29039/1998-6785/2024-4/11-25. EDN:
MHNQUU. (In Russian)
6. Baklanov PYa, Shinkovsky MYu (eds). Transgranichnyj region: ponyatie, sushchnost’, form.
[Transboundary region: concept, essence, form.] Vladivostok: Dal’nauka; 2010. 276 p. (In Russian)
7. Novikov AN. Prigranichnoe polozhenie Zabajkal’skogo kraya v transgranichnom tryokhzvennom
regione: rol’ v territorial’noj organizacii naseleniya i khozyajstva. [The border position of the Transbaikal Territory
in a transboundary three-tier region: role in the territorial organization of the population and economy.] Chita:
ZaBGU; 2015. 94 p. (In Russian)
8. Dambaeva NP. To the question of the frontier region concept. Economic Environment. 2019;(4):66-75.
EDN: BUWNSG. (In Russian)
9. Aleksandrova MV. Rossijsko-kitajskie prigranichnye ehkonomicheskie otnosheniya. [Russian-Chinese
border economic relations.] Moscow: OGNI; 2005. 262 p. (In Russian)
10. Kuchinskaya TN. Sociocultural space of transborder area as resource of russia and china codevelopment:
regional practices of RF’s Transbaikal region and PRC’s Northeast region. Moscow: Vostochnaya
kniga; 2012. 232 p. EDN VTXKJE. (In Russian)
11. Larin VL. Rossijsko-kitajskie otnosheniya v regional’nykh izmereniyakh (80- e gody XX – nachalo
XXI veka). [Russian-Chinese relations in regional dimensions (1980s – early 21st century).] Moscow: Vostok-
Zapad; 2005. 390 p. (In Russian)
12. Abramova NA (ed). Zabajkal’skij kraj v transgranichnom vzaimodejstvii s KNR (regional’noe
sotrudnichestvo). [Transbaikal Territory in cross-border interaction with the PRC (regional cooperation).] Chita:
Ehkspress-izdatel’stvo; 2010. 272 p. (In Russian)
13. Abramova NA (ed). Transgranich’e Rossii i Kitaya: regional’nye praktiki sorazvitiya. [Cross-border
relations between Russia and China: regional co-development practices.] Chita: ZaBGU; 2014. 137 p. (In
Russian)
14. Kolosov VA (ed). Rossijskoe pogranich`e: vy`zovy` sosedstva. [Russian borderland: Challenges of
neighborhood.] Moscow: IP Matushkina II, 2018; 562 p. (In Russian)
15. Wang Yaning. Chzhungo shi syan’daikhua behitszin sya byan’ tszin an’tsyuan’ sin’ gehtszyui goutszyan’
vehidu. [Aspects of building a new border security structure in the context of Chinese modernization.] Chzhungo
zhehn’min’ tszincha dasyueh syuehbao [Bulletin of the People’s Police University of China.] 2025;41(1):5-11.
(In Chinese)
16. Li Chzhifehi. Kua tszin tsyuiyui khua fachzhan’ yui sin’ shidai Chzhungo byan’tszin an’tsyuan’ chzhili.
[Cross-border Regionalization and China’s Border Security Management in the New Era.] Vaitszyao Pinlun’.
[Diplomatic Review.] 2024;41(6):2-23. DOI:10.13569/j.cnki.far.2024.06.001. (In Chinese)
17. Chzhan Litszyun’, Chzhao Tsyan’, Gun Zhunzhun. Sin byan’ fumin’ sindun 20 nyan’ chzhehntseh
shishi syaogo pintszya tszi chzhan’van. [Assessment and Prospects of the 20-Year Period of Implementation
of Border Area Development Policy and Poverty Reduction Actions.] Chzhunyan min’tszu dasyueh syuehbao
(chzhehsyueh shehkhuehi kehsyueh ban’). [Bulletin of the University of National Minorities of the People’s
Republic of China (Issue: Philosophy and Social Sciences).] 2020;47(6):94-107. (In Chinese)
18. Li Chzhifehi. New forms and new meanings of security management in China’s border areas in
the new era. Journal Of Changsha University of Science & Technology. 2025;40(4):58-70. DOI: 10.16573/j.
cnki.1672934x.2025.04.007. (In Chinese)
19. Novikov AN. The Role of International Transboundary Three-Component Regions in the Territorial
Organization of Population and Economy (the Case of Transbaikal and Primorsky Regions): doct. geo. sci. diss.
Chita; 2017. 365 p. (In Russian)
20. Sun Chzhouin, Chzhu Tsyaolin. Chzhungo byan’tszin ditsyui deh chehnchzhehn’ khua gehtszyui
tszi tsi tsyuidun li. [Urbanization pattern and its driving forces in China’s border areas.] Dili Syuehbao. [Acta
Geographica Sinica.] 2020;75(8):1603-1616. DOI: 10.11821/dlxb202008004. (In Chinese) |
| Full article | China’s Border Regionalism: a New Model of Security and Development |