Yang Ziqiang: Advancing the Modernization of the Frontier Governance System and Governance Capacity is an Essential Component of Chinese-path Modernization
The border regions constitute the frontline of our country’s opening up to the outside world, a window for displaying national strength and image, and a vital barrier for ensuring national territorial and ecological security. During the 18th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Promoting the modernization of the border governance system and governance capacity is an inherent requirement of Chinese-path modernization." This important thesis is a profound summation and major innovation based on the historical experience of our country's border governance. It embodies the fundamental requirements and distinct characteristics of comprehensively promoting the great cause of building a strong nation and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization. It marks a new height in our Party's systematic understanding of the laws of border governance, providing a clear direction and fundamental guidance [1] for deepening all aspects of border governance work and promoting high-quality development in border areas under the new situation.
Profoundly Understanding the Practical, Theoretical, and Historical Logic Contained in This Important Thesis
From the perspective of practical logic, facing the global changes unseen in a century [2] and the great cause of building a strong nation and national rejuvenation, we must promote the modernization of the border governance system and governance capacity. Since its founding, the Communist Party of China has incorporated border stability and development into its revolutionary program. Throughout the course of leading revolution, construction, and reform, it has consistently attached importance to the development of border regions. As a result, the appearance of these regions has undergone tremendous changes, and the lives of the border masses have significantly improved, writing a vivid chapter of "the Party’s radiance shines on the borders, and the hearts of the border people turn toward the Party." Since the 18th National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has focused on the strategic overall situation of governance, proposing a series of important theses and major measures such as "to govern the country, we must first govern the borders" [3] and "prosper the borders and enrich the people; stabilize the borders and consolidate the frontiers." By persisting in and improving the strategy for coordinated regional development and major regional strategies, the Party has accelerated the high-quality development of border areas, pushing them to join the rest of the nation in winning the battle against poverty, completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and embarking on a new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. Border governance has achieved historical successes and undergone historical transformations. On this new journey, the domestic and international situation has changed profoundly; the tasks of border governance are unprecedentedly heavy, and the risks and challenges are unprecedented. This places higher demands on the systematic, holistic, and synergetic nature of border governance. We must treat the modernization of the border governance system and governance capacity as a powerful guarantee for responding to risks and challenges and gaining historical initiative.
From the perspective of theoretical logic, the principle that "not a single person in the border regions can be left behind" embodies the distinct characteristics and unique advantages of Chinese-path modernization. Modernization is the common expectation and goal of all peoples, but every country should choose its path based on its own realities. Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of a huge population, of common prosperity for all, of material and cultural-ethical advancement, of harmony between humanity and nature, and of peaceful development. These distinct characteristics are determined by China’s unique objective conditions, by the Chinese social system and principles of governance, and by the systematic understanding derived from China’s long-term practice of achieving modernization. To realize such modernization, not a single person in the border regions can be left behind. According to data from the seventh national census, the total population of China’s nine land-border provinces and regions is 284.5 million, accounting for about one-fifth of the national total. Over half of the 140-plus land-border counties were formerly national-level poverty-stricken counties, and more than 90 are located in national key ecological functional zones. Nearly 60% of the ethnic minority population lives in border areas, including some "directly-transitioned ethnic groups" [4] who leaped directly from primitive society over several social formations into socialism. China shares land borders with 14 countries and maritime connections with eight. These factors dictate that the most arduous tasks in promoting Chinese-path modernization lie in certain ethnic border regions. Only by accelerating modernization in border areas, consolidating the material foundation of border governance, and enhancing governance efficacy can we continuously resolve problems therein. Incorporating border area development into the strategic overall situation of Chinese-path modernization reflects its distinct characteristics and unique advantages.
From the perspective of historical logic, border governance has always been a vital aspect of national governance, and our country has accumulated rich governance concepts and historical experience. China is an ancient civilization with a long history, possessing not only a vast Central Plains hinterland but also extensive land and sea borders. As the saying goes, "The royal domain may stretch a thousand li, but it is where the people reside" [5]. Every dynasty in Chinese history placed border governance in a position of importance. The Qin Dynasty established Nanhai and Guilin Commanderies to manage the Lingnan region; the Han Dynasty established the Protectorate of the Western Regions to govern Xinjiang; the Tang Dynasty created over 800 jimi (loose-rein) prefectures [6] to administer the frontiers; the Yuan Dynasty established the Bureau of Buddhist and Tibetan Affairs to manage Tibet; and the Ming and Qing Dynasties implemented the policy of "replacing local headmen with central officials" (gaituligui) [7] in the southwest. Through thousands of years of exploration and practice, our country's border governance has accumulated rich concepts and experience. For example, upholding the concept of "Great Unity" (Dayitong) [8], emphasizing that the borders and the interior are inseparable, and ensuring the smooth implementation of central government decrees; maintaining the concepts of "governing according to local customs" and "standardizing governance while cultivating education," emphasizing the promotion of border governance according to local conditions and the proper handling of ethnic and religious issues; and adhering to the concepts of "cultivating people through culture" and "educating people through virtue," emphasizing the enhancement of cultural identity. Guided by these important concepts and experiences, the ancestors of all ethnic groups worked side-by-side [9], cleared the wilderness, jointly expanded the vast territory of the motherland, jointly created a unified multi-ethnic country, and jointly wrote the glorious history of China, created the splendid Chinese culture, and nurtured the great national spirit. They shaped a Chinese civilization characterized by outstanding continuity, creativity, unity, inclusivity, and peacefulness. History and practice prove that when the borders are stable and peaceful, the nation is firm and prosperous. In this sense, border governance is an important manifestation of our country’s national governance capacity.
In Implementing This Important Thesis, We Must Focus on Several Key Relationships
Grasping the relationship between the whole and the part, and adhering closely to the theme of promoting Chinese-path modernization. "Those who do not plan for the overall situation are not qualified to plan for a single area" [10]. We must persist with a systems perspective, firmly establish the idea of "the whole country as a single chessboard," and focus on the central task of comprehensively promoting the building of a strong nation and national rejuvenation. We must balance "what the overall situation requires" with "what a specific area can provide," using a perspective that is interconnected, comprehensive, and evolving to analyze the advantages and shortcomings of various border regions and identify their strategic positioning within the national whole. We must integrate border area development into the strategic overall situation of Chinese-path modernization, coordinated regional development strategies, and major regional strategies. We should support border areas in leveraging their own endowments to vigorously develop characteristic industries and develop new quality productive forces according to local conditions, achieving high-quality development as they integrate into the new development pattern and the unified national market. We must persist in using reform and opening up to increase momentum and vitality, utilizing the coastal and border advantages of these regions to create diverse "highlands of opening up," forming a comprehensive pattern of opening up that links land and sea, and facilitates mutual assistance between east and west. We must persist in "doing some things while refraining from others" [11]—revering, respecting, conforming to, and protecting nature. We must adhere to the integrated protection and systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and deserts, especially in ecologically fragile or protected areas, following a path where ecological priority and green development come first. Focusing on the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development, we must persist in urban-rural integrated development, steadily promote new-type urbanization with county seats as important carriers, consolidate and expand the successes of poverty alleviation, effectively prevent large-scale returns to poverty, and comprehensively promote rural revitalization. We must profoundly understand the significance of "wealthy border residents leads to stable borders," persisting in guaranteeing and improving livelihoods through development, continuously improving production and living conditions, and quickly patching up shortcomings in infrastructure and basic public services so that development fruits benefit people's livelihoods and win their hearts.
Grasping the relationship between diversity and unity, and following the main thread of forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation. Our country is a unified multi-ethnic state, and the Chinese nation was formed through the continuous exchange, interaction, and integration of various ethnic groups. The "pluralistic unity" [12] of all ethnic groups is a vital asset left to us by our ancestors and a major advantage of our country. Ethnic unity is the lifeline of people of all ethnic groups. Over 80% of our land border lies in ethnic minority areas. Doing ethnic work well in border regions concerns the overall situation of the Party’s ethnic work and serves as a vital foundation for border governance. We must always adhere to the main thread of forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation; the economic, political, cultural, social, ecological, and Party-building efforts in ethnic border regions must all center on and never deviate from this main thread. We must broadly practice Socialist Core Values, deepen education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism, and guide the various ethnic groups in border areas to firmly establish the community concept of sharing "joys and sorrows, honor and disgrace, life and death, and a common destiny." We should continuously strengthen their identification with the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the Communist Party of China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics, promoting the forging of a sense of community for the Chinese nation and building a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation. We must persist in and improve the system of regional ethnic autonomy, gradually refining relevant laws and differentiated regional support policies to protect the legitimate rights and interests of all ethnic groups according to law, and continuously improving the capacity and level of governing ethnic affairs. We must highlight Chinese cultural symbols and images shared by all ethnic groups, comprehensively promote and popularize the standard spoken and written Chinese language, and fully implement the use of nationally compiled textbooks to ensure that the hearts and spirits of all ethnic groups converge, forming a powerful spiritual bond of unity and progress. Broad exchange, interaction, and integration are important paths for forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation. We must continue to deepen the creation of ethnic unity and progress, actively build an "inter-embedded" social structure and community environment, and broaden practical paths for all-round embedding of all ethnic groups, ensuring they "clasp together like pomegranate seeds" [13].
Grasping the relationship between development and security, and guarding the bottom line of national security and social stability. If the "gate of the country" is secure, the country is secure; if the border is stable, the nation is stable. Maintaining security and stability in border areas is not only a prerequisite for governance and development but also directly relates to national security and the stability of the overall situation. We must unswervingly implement the Holistic Approach to National Security and resolutely maintain national security and social stability in border regions. We must strengthen the leadership of primary-level Party building, improve the social governance system of "consultation, contribution, and shared benefits," [14] and continuously consolidate the grassroots foundation to enhance the efficacy of social governance in border areas. We must strengthen the capacity to maintain national security, strike hard against infiltration, sabotage, subversion, and separatist activities by hostile forces, and continue to increase the rectification of border-related crimes such as cross-border gambling, telecommunications fraud, drugs, smuggling, and violent terrorism. We must resolutely maintain the security and stability of ports and borders, the order of exit-entry management, and the safety and legitimate interests of the broad masses of the people. We must strengthen infrastructure construction, reinforce technological empowerment, and build strong and stable modern border and coastal defenses. We must resolutely safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, leveraging the combined strength of the Party, government, military, police, and civilians to strengthen border defense and improve the overall capacity for defending the borders.
Grasping the relationship between theory and practice, and accelerating the construction of a Chinese independent knowledge system for Border Studies. Theory is the refinement and sublimation of practice, as well as the precursor to practical innovation. The great practice of border governance in the New Era provides rich soil for theoretical research. We must always hold fast to the "soul-vein" of Marxism and the "root-vein" of fine traditional Chinese culture, using Chinese logic to summarize Chinese practice and elevating Chinese experience into Chinese theory. Disciplinary construction is the support for theoretical innovation. We must strengthen multi-disciplinary research related to border history and border governance, grasping the characteristics of border research where history and reality intertwine, time and space cross, and traditional and emerging aspects are equally important. We should think holistically about major relationships such as the borders and the interior, land borders and sea borders, and domestic and international contexts. We must deepen research on major theoretical and practical issues in border governance, break down disciplinary barriers, promote disciplinary integration, and drive high-quality development of the field to produce more influential and persuasive research results. We must utilize the results of border research, innovate communication methods, enrich content, broaden channels, and strengthen international communication capacity. This will allow us to fully demonstrate the massive changes and significant achievements in the rapid development of border areas and vividly showcase the spiritual outlook of people in border areas—their self-confidence, self-reliance, and united struggle—while using academic language to tell the story of China's border governance in the New Era. We must build a team of border governance researchers with firm political stances, excellent theoretical cultivation, and high comprehensive quality. We should focus on stimulating the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of experts and scholars, placing particular emphasis on training young scholars—setting their direction, building platforms, and creating opportunities for them. We should encourage them to study deeply and accumulate extensively to propose more subjective and original theoretical viewpoints, making due contributions to the construction of a Chinese independent knowledge system for Border Studies.
Translating the power of truth in this important thesis into vivid practice for promoting the high-quality development of border regions.
Implementing the Party's overall leadership throughout all aspects and the entire process of frontier governance. Frontier governance is a systematic undertaking involving reform, development, stability; internal affairs, diplomacy, national defense; and the governance of the Party, the state, and the military. It is characterized by a high degree of political sensitivity, complex policy requirements, and prominent security concerns. It is imperative to profoundly recognize that the Party's leadership is the fundamental guarantee for advancing Chinese-path modernization. In frontier governance, we must consistently uphold and strengthen the Party's overall leadership, fully leveraging the Party’s role as the leadership core that oversees the general situation and coordinates all parties, while resolutely upholding the CPC Central Committee’s authority and its centralized, unified leadership. It is necessary to accurately grasp the strategic considerations behind the Central Committee’s major decisions regarding frontier governance, strengthen strategic planning and holistic coordination, and organically integrate frontier governance into the development of all sectors. Relevant departments must fulfill their respective responsibilities, shoulder their duties with courage, cooperate closely, and form a powerful synergy. Party organizations at all levels in frontier regions must consistently "align and calibrate" [15] with the spirit of the Central Committee and implement this into the specific planning and execution of all regulations, policies, and projects, ensuring that the Party’s theories, lines, principles, policies, and decision-making deployments are comprehensively carried out and effectively executed. The vast number of Party members and cadres are a vital force in frontier governance; they must strengthen their sense of mission and responsibility, boost their vigor for entrepreneurship and action, and be both courageous in pioneering innovation and persistent in implementation. They must dare to strive and venture while remaining adept at unity and collaboration, striving to create achievements in frontier governance that can stand the test of history, practice, and the people.
Adhering to systemic governance, law-based governance, comprehensive governance, and governance at the source, and transforming institutional advantages into governance efficacy. Frontier governance is a science. We must deepen our understanding of the laws governing it, grasping its important characteristics as it traverses the macro and micro, the current and the long-term, and the particular and the general within national governance. We must place greater emphasis on systemic integration, highlighting key priorities, and the actual results of reform to achieve a benign interaction between high-quality development and high-level security. Efforts must be made in systemic governance, focusing on strengthening strategic collaboration, policy synergy, institutional coordination, and joint action. We must increase the intensity of holistic planning for frontier governance in terms of organizational management, policy planning, major reforms, infrastructure construction, and pilot demonstrations to better promote cross-departmental, cross-field, cross-regional, and cross-tier linkages, thereby achieving the goal of "reaching the vast heights while exhausting the subtle details" [16]. Efforts must be made in law-based governance, focusing on the use of rule-of-law thinking and methods to promote frontier governance. We must accelerate the "enactment, revision, abolition, and interpretation" [17] of laws and regulations related to frontier governance, further perfecting the "four beams and eight pillars" [18] of the frontier governance system. We must leverage the role of laws and regulations in standardization, guidance, and sequencing, striving to achieve the state where "laws stabilize the world and virtue nourishes the hearts of the people." [19] Efforts must be made in comprehensive governance, focusing on being problem-oriented, technology-supported, and result-standardized. We must adapt to the new trend where contradictions and risks in frontier governance have become increasingly trans-boundary, interconnected, and penetrative. We should improve linkage mechanisms for mutual support, close cooperation, and information sharing, forming a sound situation of joint problem-solving, joint remediation of shortcomings, and joint risk prevention. Efforts must be made in governance at the source, focusing on maintaining and developing the "Fengqiao Experience" [20] in the New Era. We must consistently adhere to the Party’s mass line, promote the shift of the focus of social governance and services toward the primary level, and sink more resources into the grassroots. This will build a strong barrier for maintaining national unity, ethnic solidarity, and frontier stability, ensuring that the situation of peace and harmony in frontier regions is further consolidated.
"The long wind blows through the Yumen Pass, as the ten-thousand-mile frontier takes on a new look." [21] On the new journey of the New Era, strengthening frontier governance concerns the fundamental interests of the Party and the people, as well as the future destiny of the country and the nation; it must not be relaxed for even a moment. In the great practice of advancing Chinese-path modernization, we must deeply study, comprehend, and resolutely implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on frontier governance. We must strive to modernize the frontier governance system and capacity, continuously improve institutional mechanisms in all aspects, consolidate foundations, leverage advantages, remedy shortcomings, and strengthen weak links. We must prevent and defuse risks, respond effectively to challenges, promote high-quality development in frontier regions, and unite the masses of all ethnic groups in the frontiers to jointly guard the motherland's borders and create a bright future for Chinese-path modernization.
(The author is a researcher at the Xi Jinping Academy of Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Renmin University of China) Source: People's Daily (February 14, 2025, Page 09) Web Editor: Hui Hui