China's emergence as a global power hasn't just shifted the balance of international relations-it's rewritten the rules of engagement in its own backyard. This book, 《龙之邻域:中国边疆治理与区域影响力》 (China's Neighborhood: Managing Borders, Alliances, and Regional Influence), dives into the messy, often contradictory ways Beijing handles its most volatile relationships: from Taiwan's (台湾) defiance of unification to Hong Kong's (香港) fading autonomy, and from the South China Sea's maritime disputes to Central Asia's web of pipelines and political deals. At the heart of it all lies a single, unyielding priority: protecting China's territorial integrity (维护领土完整), even if it means clashing with democratic ideals or regional partners.
China's toolkit is a mix of carrot and stick. On one hand, there's the Belt and Road Initiative-a trillion-dollar project to build roads, ports, and digital networks across Asia, binding countries to Beijing's economic orbit. On the other, there's the growing assertiveness in Xinjiang (新疆), where surveillance and repression target Uighur separatism, and in the South China Sea, where artificial islands host military bases. But these tactics aren't always effective. Taiwan's pro-independence movements thrive despite threats, Hong Kong's protests (反送中运动 [Anti-Extradition Bill Movement]) exposed cracks in "One Country, Two Systems" ("一国两制"), and Central Asian states quietly hedge their bets between China and Russia.
What's driving this? For Beijing, the neighborhood isn't just about geography-it's about survival. A stable periphery (稳定周边) means fewer distractions as China challenges U.S. dominance. It means securing land routes to Europe via Central Asia and projecting power into the Indian Ocean. But it also means walking a tightrope: pushing too hard risks alienating neighbors, while pulling back could invite rivals to fill the void.
This book argues that China's neighborhood strategy is less about raw power and more about calculated pragmatism. Beijing doesn't seek to dominate Asia outright-it wants to reshape the rules so that others play by its terms. Whether through Huawei's 5G rollout, Confucius Institutes, or debt-trap diplomacy, China is exporting its model of governance, one that prioritizes stability over freedom.
Yet the cracks are showing. Taiwan's democracy remains a thorn in Beijing's side. Hong Kong's youth see their future tied to the West, not the mainland. And in Central Asia, local elites grumble about Chinese corruption while relying on Beijing's cash.
By peeling back these layers, we see a rising power both confident and insecure-a nation that sees its neighborhood as both a launching pad for global ambition and a potential graveyard for its dreams.
