Stability, development and prosperity in the border areas are the common goals pursued by China and Central Asian countries. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, along with the development and changes in the international situation, the points of convergence of common interests and cooperation between China and Central Asian countries have gradually increased, and the good-neighborly and friendly relations between the two sides are facing an important development opportunity of comprehensive upgrading. Conscientiously building the border between China and the Central Asian countries into a border of peace, stability, friendship, and cooperation conforms to the fundamental interests of the peoples of both countries.
1. Principles for raising and following boundary issues
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991, many of the Soviet republics officially became independent sovereign states, and on the 3,300-kilometer western section of the former Sino-Soviet border, the newly independent Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan became China's new neighbors. Almost from the moment they became new neighbors, the three Central Asian countries and China realized the importance of resolving the border issue: the reality of multiple cross-border ethnic groups requires the two sides to jointly crack down on various forces engaged in separatist activities from the standpoint of safeguarding national unity and opposing ethnic separatist activities; As an important resource and an important energy base, the two sides need to carry out economic and trade cooperation, exchange what they have, and learn from each other's strengths. As an important strategic barrier, bilateral border security can improve the safety factor of domestic economic reform; At the same time, the border issue is also a very sensitive issue that involves national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as whether or not we can live in peace with our neighbors and have a stable surrounding environment.
Kindness and good-neighborliness is a fine tradition inherited by China for thousands of years. The Chinese Government pursues the foreign policy of "goodwill and partnership with its neighbors" and the foreign policy of "good-neighborliness, peace and prosperity." At the same time, with the aim of developing friendly cooperation with neighboring countries and creating a peaceful and stable surrounding environment for domestic economic construction, the Central Asian governments have adhered to the principle of good-neighborliness and friendship with their neighbors since the founding of the People's Republic of China to promote the settlement of various problems, including border issues. Under the common demand, the two sides agreed that the best way is to finally reach an agreement on the settlement of the border issue through peaceful negotiations and consultations on an equal footing, and regard it as the primary goal of developing bilateral relations. However, for both sides, it will not be easy to resolve the border issue. The border issue between China and the three Central Asian countries is an issue left over from history, which is different from ordinary disputes and is characterized by complexity, sensitivity, and long-term nature. Due to historical reasons, the borders between China and the countries of Central Asia have been changed many times. If we are entangled in history, even if we use international law as the yardstick, I am afraid that it is also said that the public is justified, and the mother-in-law says that the mother-in-law is reasonable. Often, the parties to a dispute believe that there is sufficient historical and factual evidence to prove that the place is their territory, in accordance with an article of international law. It is necessary to be cautious and patient, and to be good at combining principle with flexibility.
Taking Tajikistan as an example, the "Sino-Russian Treaty on the Survey and Demarcation of the Northwest Boundary" signed in 1864 stipulates that the border between China and Russia "goes to the green ridge and is bounded by the Kokand boundary", and the Pamirs are in China. The Sino-Russian Treaty of Ili signed in 1881 stipulated that the border between China and Russia in the Pamir should be "demarcated according to the boundary currently under the control of the two countries." However, in 1884, when surveying the boundary and signing the Sino-Russian Treaty on the Continued Survey of the Kashgar Boundary, Tsarist Russia moved the starting point of the demarcation line between China and Russia in the Pamir region from the Alai Mountains in the north of the Pamir to the Uzberi Pass in the northeast, and stipulated that from the Uzberi Pass to the south, "the Russian boundary line will turn to the southwest, and the Chinese boundary line will continue to the south," and a triangular area with a top angle of 45 degrees will be formed in the middle, which will be the "waiting area." In this way, Tsarist Russia invaded a large area of territory in the northwestern part of China's Pamirs and turned part of the territory within China's "current borders" into "pending areas," thus making its ownership problematic. The Qing government adhered to its principled stand on the Pamir issue: The Pamirs belonged to China, and the fact that Tsarist Russia sent troops to forcibly occupy and privately divide the Pamirs in collusion with Britain was an act of banditry that violated China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, was illegal and invalid, and the Chinese Government would never recognize it. The demarcation of the border between China and Russia in the Pamir region can only be based on the Sino-Russian Treaty on the Renewal of the Kashgar Boundary, and China insists on this right until the final settlement of the Pamir issue is reached[1]. Successive Chinese governments did not recognize the occupation of China's Pamir region by Tsarist Russia. The newly formed Soviet government after the October Revolution also recognized the existence of a border problem between the Soviet Union and China in the Pamir region. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, this area was under the de facto control of Tajikistan. For this reason, the area disputed on the border between China and Tajikistan is 28,000 square kilometres, accounting for about one-fifth of the latter's total land area.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, China and the Soviet Union held three rounds of border talks. The first round was in 1964, the second between 1969 and 1978 and the third round of negotiations from 1987 to 2004. In the third round of negotiations, the agreement on the eastern section of the Sino-Soviet state border signed in May 1991 made a breakthrough in the border negotiations only in the eastern section [3].
In order to satisfactorily resolve the issue of the western border, the mainland government, proceeding from the overall and long-term interests of the country and with an attitude of seeking truth from facts, has put forward and followed a series of effective principles and methods in practice: First, it must resolutely safeguard the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity; The second is to negotiate amicably on the basis of equality, seek a fair and reasonable solution through mutual understanding and mutual accommodation, and maintain the status quo until the problem is resolved; The third is the combination of history and reality, taking care of both the historical background and the actual situation that has been formed; Fourth, it is necessary to treat the old boundary treaties in history in accordance with the general principles of international law, and to follow international practice in demarcating and demarcating the boundaries[4].
In practice, the Central Asian countries and China have always adhered to the principle of "sovereignty first, objectivity first, and friendship first," properly resolved the relations between safeguarding national territorial sovereignty and stabilizing their neighbors, and achieved good-neighborliness and friendship as well as a satisfactory settlement of the border issue.
Under the guidance of these principles, in October 1992, a delegation of the Chinese Government and a joint delegation of the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan, which had recently become independent, launched the first round of border negotiations on the border issue in Beijing since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since then, the boundary demarcation has finally achieved results after many discussions and negotiations between China and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Russia.
2. The specific course of the border negotiations and their results
(1) Border negotiations with Kazakhstan
The China-Kazakhstan border refers to the border between Habahe County, Jimunai County, and Tacheng Prefecture of Altay Prefecture, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Bole City and Hot Spring County of Buxel Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Tacheng City, Yumin County, and Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, as well as Huocheng County, Qapqar Xibe Autonomous County, and Zhaosu County of Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture and Kazakhstan[4]. Of the 3,300-kilometer border with the three Central Asian countries, 1,770 kilometers are the China-Kazakhstan border. The border issue between China and Kazakhstan has been highly valued by the leaders of the two countries from the very beginning, and this is one of the important reasons why China and Kazakhstan have become the first countries to take the lead in resolving the border issue.
On April 26, 1994, during his visit to Almaty, Chinese Premier Li Peng and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed the Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the China-Kazakhstan State Border. The Agreement entered into force on 11 September 1995 following an exchange of ratifications by the legislatures. In order to further determine the alignment of the boundary line in the areas where agreement has not been reached, the two sides agreed to continue to resolve the issue through negotiations and to establish a joint demarcation committee to carry out the demarcation work. The main tasks of the Joint Boundary Demarcation Committee are to determine the exact location of the Fengshui Ridge of the Boundary Mountains and the centerline of the boundary river or the main stream centerline, as well as the ownership of the islands in the boundary river, to erect boundary markers, and to draw up detailed boundary survey maps [6].
During his visit to Kazakhstan from 24 to 25 September 1997, Premier Li Peng signed the "Supplementary Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Sino-Kazakh State Border" with President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The agreement defines the course of the border of about 10 kilometers from the 69th boundary point of the China-Kazakhstan border to the southwestern end point (Khan Tengri Peak), which is not specifically described in the 1994 China-Kazakhstan State Border Agreement [7]. These two agreements have legally resolved the issue of the demarcation of the national boundaries of all the disputed areas along the China-Kazakhstan border, except for the two disputed areas of Chahan Obo and Sharhiri, which are now controlled by the Kazakh side.
In June 1998, in accordance with the draft group of the Border Agreement with the Joint Delegation of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan approved by the State Council<中哈国界第二补充协定>The drafting group of the border agreement between China and the joint delegation of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan for border negotiations conducted negotiations on the demarcation of the national border between the two disputed areas of Chakhan Obo and Sharhiri, and drafted and initialled the second "Supplementary Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Sino-Kazakh State Border" in 1998. On July 4, 1998, during his working visit to Kazakhstan, President Jiang Zemin and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev formally signed the 1998 "Supplementary Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Sino-Kazakh State Border" in Almaty on behalf of their respective countries[8].
On 5 May 1999, the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan, in accordance with the principle of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, signed the Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation on the Western Section of the Sino-Russian Boundary of 3 September 1994 and the Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Sino-Kazakh State Border of 26 April 1994. According to the provisions of the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Determination of the Junction of the State Border of the Three Countries, the location of the junction of the three state borders is determined on the watershed of the Altai Mountains (Southern Altai Mountains) [9].
The signing of these agreements has comprehensively and thoroughly resolved the border issue between the mainland and Kazakhstan.
(ii) Border negotiations with Kyrgyzstan
The China-Kyrgyzstan border refers to the border between Wensu County and Wushi County in Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Aheqi County, Artush City, Wucha County, and Aktao County in Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture and Kyrgyzstan[10]. Kyrgyzstan has become the second Central Asian country after Kazakhstan to completely resolve the border problem with China. The length of the common border between China and Kyrgyzstan is 1,096 kilometers.
In May 1992, China and Kyrgyzstan issued a joint communiqué on the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries, acknowledging the results achieved in the Sino-Soviet border talks of 1987-1991 on the Sino-Kyrgyz border section and expressing their willingness to continue negotiations on the basis of these remaining issues. On 4 July 1996, during his visit to Kyrgyzstan, President Jiang Zemin and President Akayev signed the "Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Kyrgyz Republic on the Sino-Kyrgyz State Border," which came into effect on 27 April 1998. Of the 21 boundary points set out in the agreement, all of them have been determined, except for the direction of the seventh to eighth boundary points on which the two sides have not reached consensus. The agreement stipulates that a joint boundary survey committee shall be established in accordance with the principle of reciprocity, which shall be responsible for carrying out the follow-up boundary survey work, determining and erecting boundary markers, drafting boundary survey documents, and drawing up detailed boundary survey maps [11]. During Kyrgyz President Akayev's state visit to China from April 26 to 30, 1998, the two sides exchanged certificates of ratification of the Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Kyrgyz Republic on the State Border between China and Kyrgyzstan. On 24 and 26 August 1999, President Jiang Zemin and the presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan jointly signed an agreement on the border junction between China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, and at the same time signed the "Supplementary Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Kyrgyz Republic on the Sino-Kyrgyz State Border" with President Akayev. The agreement finalized the alignment of the agreed border between China and Kyrgyzstan between the 7th and 8th boundary points, as well as the route between the 21st boundary point and its terminus [12]. As a result of the negotiation efforts of the two sides, in the agreement, the two sides divided the Uzuntush River area, and out of the total 2,844 square kilometers of disputed areas, 860 square kilometers in the southeast were assigned to the Chinese side, accounting for 30% of the total disputed areas, and the remaining 1,984 square kilometers belonged to the Kyrgyzstan side, accounting for 70% of the total disputed areas. China and Kyrgyzstan have completed the demarcation and erection of all border monuments, and the new border has also been marked on China's new map.
In addition to the completion of the bilateral border agreement with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the People's Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Kazakhstan, in order to clarify and determine the location of the junction of the state border of the three countries, the three parties have determined that the People's Republic of China, The border between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Kazakhstan is located at an altitude of 6,995 meters on the Khan Tengri peak [13]. From June 25 to July 9, 2004, the chief representative of the China-Kyrgyzstan Joint Boundary Demarcation Commission initialed the Protocol between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic on the Demarcation of the China-Kyrgyz Boundary Line and the attached China-Kyrgyz Boundary Map, and signed the relevant demarcation results table[14]. On September 21, 2004, the Prime Ministers of China and Kyrgyzstan formally signed the Protocol on the Demarcation of the China-Kyrgyz Border between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic [15]. The border issue between China and Kyrgyzstan has been thoroughly resolved.
(iii) Border negotiations with Tajikistan
According to the latest information, Tajikistan's border with the mainland is about 497 kilometers long, bordering Aktao County in Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Tashkurgan County in Kashgar Prefecture, with the section of the Akzak Prefecture about 268 kilometers long [16]. Compared with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, China's border with Tajikistan is more complex. This is mainly due to the fact that the China-Tajikistan border issue is a historical issue, and from the collapse of the Soviet Union until 1997, Tajikistan was too busy with civil war to have time for other things, which is also an important reason for the lack of progress in the Sino-Tajikistan border negotiations during this period [17]. Tajikistan is the latest of the three Central Asian countries to sign a border agreement with China.
From 11 to 14 August 1999, during the friendly visit to China by President Emomali Rakhmonov of the Republic of Tajikistan, the two sides signed the Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan on the State Boundary between China and Tajikistan. In addition to the 13 boundary points specified in the agreement, in order to further determine the direction from the 14th boundary point to the junction of the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Islamic State of Afghanistan, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement, the two sides set up a joint boundary demarcation committee and carried out on-the-spot boundary survey and monument erection[18]. On May 27, 2002, the President of China and the Head of State of Tajikistan signed the Supplementary Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan on the China-Tajikistan State Border[19], in which Tajikistan agreed to hand over to China 3.5% (approximately 1Otx) square kilometer of the disputed 28 square kilometers of land near the Pamirs, thus ending the border dispute[20]. In accordance with the Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan on the China-Tajikistan State Boundary and the Supplementary Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan on the China-Tajikistan State Border, the work of erecting boundary pillars in the field of China-Tajikistan boundary survey officially began in June 2006 and was completed in August 2008. On September 20, 2008, representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan jointly unveiled boundary pillars Nos. 83 and 84 at the Karasu-Kolmai port, marking the end of the field work of the China-Tajikistan boundary survey.
In order to clarify and determine the location of the junction of the State Border of the three countries, in accordance with the Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan on the State Border between China and Tajikistan of 13 August 1999, the Supplementary Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan on the State Border between China and Tajikistan of August 1999, the Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Kyrgyz Republic on the State Border between China and Tajikistan of 4 July 1996 and the Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Kyrgyz Republic of 26 August 1999 Supplementary Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Kyrgyz Republic on the China-Kyrgyz State Border, the Agreement between the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Tajikistan and Tajikistan on the Junction of the State Border of the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic was signed on July 5, 2000, and the junction of the three state borders (hereinafter referred to as the junction of the three state borders) was located on an altitude of 6,406 meters on the ridge of the Zaalaysky Mountains [21]. On 2 September 2003, the two countries exchanged certificates of ratification of the Agreement. So far, the 3,300-kilometer-long border between China and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan has been completely demarcated, completely resolving the border issue left over from history, becoming an important link for the development of friendly and cooperative relations between the two sides, and laying a solid political foundation for further strengthening bilateral relations.
3. The historical significance of border demarcation and its reflections
The border issue is an important part of relations between neighbouring countries. The quality of the relations between the two countries directly determines the process of resolving the border issue, and at the same time, the border issue itself in turn affects the development of state-to-state relations. The settlement of the border issue between Central Asia and China has eliminated obstacles and hidden dangers in bilateral relations, created a good surrounding environment, and promoted domestic construction and development. Through political and legal means, the governments of the two sides have taken into account both history and reality, grasped the relationship between safeguarding national territorial sovereignty and stabilizing the surrounding areas, achieved mutual promotion of good-neighborliness and friendship and the settlement of the border issue, and finally successfully resolved the border issue. In the work of demarcating the border, the members of both sides have always kept in mind their sacred mission, always adhered to the principle of "sovereignty first, objectivity first, and friendship first", actively carried forward the spirit of "being willing to make contributions and be willing to endure hardships", defying hardships and dangers, made concerted efforts, erected solemn and sacred boundary monuments one after another on the national border, and submitted a satisfactory answer sheet for the harmony and stability of the bilateral border.
Both sides spoke highly of the demarcation of the national border. The Joint Communiqué on the Comprehensive Settlement of the Border Issue between the Two Countries, signed on 23 November 1999, pointed out that in accordance with the provisions of the Sino-Kazakh State Border Agreement signed on 26 April 1994, the Supplementary Agreement on the Sino-Kazakh State Border signed on 24 September 1997, and the Sino-Kazakh Supplementary Agreement on the State Border signed on 4 July 1997, the Sino-Kazakh border issue has been comprehensively and thoroughly resolved. It is also conducive to maintaining security and stability in the region [22]. China and Kyrgyzstan spoke highly of the permanent settlement of the border issue between the two sides. On 22 September 2004, Premier Wen Jiabao, who is on an official visit here, and Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Tanayev signed the Joint Communiqué between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic. It is of great significance that the border issue left over from the history of the two countries has been completely resolved. The two sides will strictly abide by the agreements on border affairs that the two countries have signed or will soon sign, and actively work to build the border between the two countries into a bond and bridge of permanent peace and friendship for generations to come[23], so that China-Kyrgyzstan relations will have a stronger foundation. The Joint Communiqué between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan pointed out: "A comprehensive settlement of the China-Tajikistan border issue is of great significance to promoting the development of bilateral relations. The two sides will strictly abide by all the agreements and documents signed by the two countries on the border issue, conscientiously do a good job in demarcating the border, and actively work to build the border between the two countries into a border of permanent peace and friendship and good-neighborliness for all generations. ”[24]
The issue of borders and territories has always been one of the most sensitive issues in international relations. The peaceful resolution of border and territorial disputes requires political courage and diplomatic wisdom. The thinking path and practice of peaceful settlement are the ways and methods to achieve a mutually beneficial and win-win situation at the border. The enlightenment brought to us by the border issue between China and Central Asian countries is that taking into account history, taking into account reality, holding consultations on an equal footing, mutual understanding and mutual accommodation, and proceeding gradually in border negotiations are the magic weapons to be followed in successfully resolving the border issue.
Most of the border and territorial issues have been formed in history, and when proposing solutions to them, we should not only take into account the history of the formation of the borders, but also take into account the actual situation. If you only emphasize one side, you will not be able to solve the problem properly. Historically, the border between China and Central Asia was formed by the cession of Chinese land by Tsarist Russia through unequal treaties, and Tsarist Russia occupied more than 1.5 million square kilometers of China's land. Later, Tsarist Russia crossed the borders stipulated in the unequal treaties and further encroached on the islands and lands in the border areas in the boundary rivers. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, China and the Central Asian countries followed the principle of "taking care of history and considering reality" that the issue was successfully resolved through negotiations on an equal footing.
The signing of the boundary treaty between China and Central Asia was the result of mutual understanding and mutual concession. In settling border and territorial issues, the countries concerned, regardless of whether they are large or small, are all sovereign states on an equal footing, and consultations should be held on the basis of equality. In resolving problems, it is necessary to pay attention to the reasonable demands of the other side in the spirit of mutual understanding and mutual accommodation, without giving up the fundamental interests of the state and the nation, and not rule out making compromises and certain concessions on the basis of mutual understanding and mutual accommodation. On the basis of equality and voluntariness, the parties make some adjustment to the borders and make some exchange or transfer of territory.
The premise for resolving border and territorial disputes is that both sides must have the will to settle peacefully, and until there is a final settlement, they can take measures to maintain the status quo, that is, they will not take the initiative to unilaterally change the status quo of border control. This is also an important experience for the peaceful settlement of border and territorial disputes between China and Central Asian countries. Because of the historical involvement, the border dispute cannot be resolved in a short period of time, but this should not allow the relations between the two countries to always be in a state of tension and affect the domestic peace building and the normal exchanges and exchanges between the two countries. Unilaterally changing the status quo at the border is tantamount to artificially creating tensions. In order to facilitate the peaceful settlement of the dispute, the parties to the dispute have taken coordinated measures to mutually agree to maintain the status quo on the border and the Line of Actual Control until the issue is resolved. Despite the unresolved border and territorial issues between China and Tajikistan, China and Tajikistan have been able to maintain the status quo on their borders and not take the initiative to realize their territorial claims. In this way, although the border and territorial issues between countries have not been resolved, they have not led to war, leaving ample room and space for peaceful settlement.
The settlement of the border issues between China and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan shows that it is possible to resolve disputes between countries through peaceful means and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results in the spirit of consultation on an equal footing, mutual understanding and mutual accommodation, respecting the basic norms of international law, and taking fairness and reasonableness as the starting point[25]. This is also a mature way of thinking for the peaceful settlement of border and territorial disputes.
Editor in charge: Su Cheng
Exegesis:
[1] Fudan University, History of Tsarist Russia's Invasion of China, Shanghai: Shanghai People's Publishing House, 1975, p. 263.
[2] [3] "Director of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Demarcation of China's Border with Neighboring Countries", httP://www.mfa.gov.cn/chn/pds/ziliao/tytj/tyfg/t209314.htm.
[4] Chen Yanqi, "Historical Review of Xinjiang Border Security and Long-term Stability Strategy", Western Regions Studies, p. 3, 2004.
[5] [6] (Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the State Border between China and Kazakhstan, Communiqué of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, April 26, 1994.
[7] (Supplementary Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Sino-Kazakh State Border, Communiqué of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, 24 September 1997.
[8] Supplementary Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Sino-Kazakh State Border, Communiqué of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, July 5, 1998.
[9] Agreement between the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on Determining the Junction of the State Border of the Three Kingdoms, Chinese National Congress, May 5, 1999.
[10] Chen Yanqi, "Historical Review of Xinjiang's Border Security and Long-term Stability Strategy".
[11] Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Kyrgyz Republic on the State Boundary between China and Kyrgyzstan, Communiqué of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, July 4, 1996.
[12] Supplementary Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Kyrgyz Republic on the China-Kyrgyzstan State Border, Communiqué of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, August 26, 1999.
[13] Agreement between the People's Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Junction of the State Frontiers of the Two States, Communiqué of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, August 25, 1999.
[14] "Extraordinary Meeting of Chief Representatives of the China-Kyrgyzstan Joint Exploration Commission Held in Beijing," July 12, 2004, see http://www.mfa.gov.cn/chn/gxh/tyh/wjbxw/t142795.htm on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
[15] "The Chinese and Kyrgyzstan Prime Ministers Formally Sign the Protocol on the Demarcation of the Sino-Kyrgyzstan National Border," China News Network, September 22, 2004.
[16] "China Will Add 1,000 Square Kilometers of Territory to the End of China-Tajikistan Boundary Survey," October 6, http://www.sina.com.cn/2008.
[17] Liu Fenghua, "China in Central Asia: The Evolution of Policy", Russian Studies in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, No. 6, 2007 [18] Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan on the Border between China and Tajikistan, Communiqué of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, August 13, 1999.
[19] Supplementary Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Tajikistan on the State Boundary between China and Tajikistan, Communiqué of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, August 13, 1999.
[20] "China-Tajikistan Boundary Survey Concludes, China Adds 1,000 Square Kilometers of Territory," Xinjiang Daily, October 7, 2008.
[21] Agreement between the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic on the Junction of the State Frontiers, Communiqué of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, July 5, 2000.
[22] Joint Communiqué of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Comprehensive Settlement of the Border Question between the Two Countries, Communiqué of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, November 7, 2000.
[23] "China and the Kyrgyz Republic Sign Joint Communiqué," Communiqué of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, September 22, 2004.
[24] Joint Communiqué of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, Communiqué of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, September 16, 2006.
[25] "Director of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Delimitation of China's Border with Neighboring Countries".
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