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Do Chinese threat the Far East security? “The problem of Chinese immigrants in Russian Far East” has become a sensitive political issue in the Sino-Russian relation.
We cannot help to emphasize that it had the influence on bilateral economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia.7
Chart 1-1：Administrative Regions of Russian Far East
Source from：「遠東地區」[Yuandong lianbang guanqu (Far Eastern Federal District)]，維基百科 [Weijibaike (Wikipedia)]，Wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_Eastern_Federal_District。
1.1.2 Purpose
According to the background of the above topic, this article attempts to answer the following questions: Why does Russia develop its Far East? What are the key factors and constraints? After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russian government
7 鄧志濤，「俄境內所謂中國『移民問題』的對策性思考」。世界經濟與政治論壇3 (2005): 77。[Deng Zhitao, Ejingnei suowei zhongguo “Yimin wenti” de duicexing sikao (The thinking countermeasures on the so-called Chinese immigration problem in Russia) Shijie Jingji Yu Zhengzhi Luntan (World Economics and Politics Forum) 3 (2005): 77.]
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actively introduced a large number of foreign workers in order to develop its Far East;
such a policy aroused the fierce dispute between federal and local governments. The driving factor of this policy is: what are the focus and constraints on controversial issues?
The above-mentioned problem derives the following logically related sub-issues:
(1) Why does Russia develop its Far East?
(2) What are key elements for developing the Russian Far East?
(3) Why do a large number of Chinese labors enter the Russian Far East?
(4) Why do some factions of Russian government oppose to the introduction of a large number of Chinese labors?
(5) How does Russian Kremlin political factor formulate the policy toward Chinese immigration in its Far East?
1.2 Hypothesis and Framework
1.2.1 Hypothesis
It is hypothesized in this study that with the development of Russia’s Far East region, it will help the overall economic development, and, in order to development its Far East, it is necessary for Russian government to recruit a large number of Chinese labors; as for the introduction of Chinese labors, it constitutes a link of Sino-Russian partnership of strategic coordination. However, once Chinese labor forces enter into the Russian Far East, it would create a threat to Russian national security. Under this geo-political consideration, it inevitably constitutes constraints for Russia on the introduction of Chinese labor forces. With these kinds of contradictory considerations, therefore, the formulation of Russia’s policy on Chinese immigration in its Far East should be analyzed in terms of economic, population, international strategy and geopolitics factors through the Kremlin political interaction.
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The above assumption can also derive the following logically related propositions:
(1) In order to inject the overall economic development, Russian government needs a large number of foreign labors to develop the Far East:
As result of the national economic development imbalances, it is potential to develop the Far Eastern economy by Chinese labors. From 1991 to 2004, the population in the Russian Far East decreased about 129 million people. A lot of labors are required in intensive production sector in the Russian Far East, but there are not enough there.8 Construction, farming, services and agriculture are main areas for Chinese immigrants. They are willing to do with low wages and speed up the progress. What’s more, because Russians will not do some jobs, their life cannot separate from the Chinese immigrants.9
Over the past decade, the rate of natural population growth and migration continued in the deteriorate situation. The population crisis was caused by mortality rate higher than the birth rate and massive outflow in the Russian Far East.10
8 Гельбрас, В. Г., “Россия в условиях глобальной китайской миграции,” Москва : Муравей, 2004.[ Gelbras, VG, Russia in the global Chinese migration (在全球華人移民的俄羅斯), Moscow:
Ant, 2004.]
The low fertility and the relocation of local residents resulted in a significant decline in population of the Russian Far East. Out of decline in population density, the deterioration of the demographic composition constrained economic and social developments. Therefore, Russian negative population growth caused the labor
9 殷劍平，「中國人在遠東:從『威脅』到促進遠東經濟穩定發展的因素」。俄羅斯中亞東歐研究
3 (2006):28。[Yan Jianping, Zhongguoren zaiyuandong :cong “Weixie” dao cujin yuandong jingji wending fazhan de yinsu (The factors for the Chinese in the Far East: from “Threat” to promote the steady development of the Far Eastern Economy) Eluosi Zhongya Dongou Yanjiu (The Russian Central Asia and East European Studies) 3 (2006):28.]
10 牛燕平，「俄羅斯遠東地區人口與勞動力資源問題」。西伯利亞研究6 (2004): 14。[Niu Yanping, Eluosi yuandongdiqu renkou yu laodongli ziyuan wenti (Russian Far East population and labor
resources) Xibaliya Yanjiu (Siberian Research) 6 (2004): 14.]
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shortage in the Far East, and Russian government must introduce Chinese labors.11
(2) Importing large quantities of Chinese labors is an integrated link of Sino-Russian partnership of strategic coordination:
In Russian foreign strategy and foreign policy, China plays a special and important role. At the period of Yeltsin, he kept the good friendship with China and regarded it as Russian important foreign policy. Then Vladimir Putin inherited the former policy to maintain Sino-Russian relation. Both Chinese and Russian leaders always have such a consensus that the strategic and cooperative partnership between two countries need to accord with the fundamental interests of their own, and to introduce large numbers of Chinese workers is the way to the cooperation.12
In foreign affairs, Putin pursued pragmatic diplomacy, and took the national interests as the starting point instead of drawing an ideological line. In the international arena, he treated the interests of Russia as a traditional political power and to defend the national dignity. Also, he advocated equality and international cooperation; he opposes the use of violence and terrorism. Russian government strengthened the ties with the CIS countries, and stepped up with the Asian countries, particularly making friendly relations with China.13
(3) Introducing a large number of Chinese labor forces constitutes a threat to
11 Дмитриев, А. В. и Пядухов, Г. А., “Этнические группы мигрантов и конфликты в анклавных рынках труда,” Социологические исследов ания, No.8, 2005, p. 95-96.[Dmitriev, AV and Pyaduhov, GA, Ethnic groups of migrants and conflict in the enclave labor markets (族群移民和衝突飛地勞動力 市場), Sociological research Ania, No.8, 2005, p. 95-96.]
12 叢鵬、張穎，「普京執政時期的俄羅斯外交特點」。國際論壇6 (2009): 59。[Cong Peng, Zhang Ying, Pujing Zhizhengshiqi De Eluosi Waijiaotedian (The Russian diplomatic characteristics during Putin in power) Guoji Luntan (International Forum) 6 (2009): 59.]
13 楊進，「俄羅斯：『強人政治』與『可控民主』」。同舟共進 1(2008): 32。[Yang Jin, Eluosi “Jiangren zhengzhi” yu “Kekong minzhu” (A strongman’s and controllable democratic politics in Russia)
Tongzhou Gongjin (The Same Boat Together)1 (2008): 32.]
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Russian security:
Although Sino-Russian relation has improved in recent years, and fthe issue of border demarcation was in a better way, the “security dilemma” between the two countries was not eliminated and even became more complex. With the growth of China and decline of Russia, especially in an economic slump in Russian Far East region, and the growth of local separatism, it is inevitably to bring a sense of crisis about regional security.14 Meanwhile, the number of population between the two adjacent regions is so huge that the Russian government is still suspicious why the Chinese immigrants came to the Russian Far East.15
(4) Russia’s policy on Chinese immigration in its Far East is formulated as a result of Kremlin political interaction in terms of economic, population, international strategy and geopolitics factors:
With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the situation in the Cold War changed. At the initial period of Yetsin ruling, the Russian foreign immigration policy was dominated by the pro-Atlantic party and what Yeltsin adopted the way was the local surrounded the central. At the end of the 1990s, Yeltsin resigned, and Putin took over the presidency. Putin had an attempt to promote centralization. The main leaders in the Far East have to change the attitude toward China. In the new electoral system, the local governors held the same opinion as the Central leaders did.
On the other hand, the Russian Far East Federation tried to make friends with China.
14 Ларин, В. Л., “Посланцы Поднебесной на Дальнем Востоке: ответ алармистам,” Диаспоры, No. 2-3, 2001, p. 77.[Larin, VL, Celestial Messengers in the Far East: the answer alarmists (中國特使 在俄羅斯遠東地區：威脅的回答), Diaspora, No. 2-3, 2001, p. 77.]
15 鄧志濤，「俄境內所謂中國『移民問題』的對策性思考」。世界經濟與政治論壇3 (2005): 78。[Deng Zhitao, Ejingnei suowei zhongguo “Yimin wenti” de duicexing sikao (The thinking countermeasures on the so-called Chinese immigration problem in Russia) Shijie Jingji Yu Zhengzhi Luntan (World Economics and Politics Forum) 3 (2005): 78.]
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1.2.2 Framework
“A study on Post-Soviet Russia’s policy on the Chinese migration in Russia’s Far East (1992-2010),” is divided into four chapters as follows:
The first chapter, “Introduction”, is divided into three sections. Section one is motivation and purpose, section two describes hypothesis and framework, and section three is literature review and research methods.
Chapter Two, “The policies for Chinese immigrants in the Russian Far East”, is also divided into three sections. Section one is the labor distribution in the Russian Far East, including the distribution of the total labor force and Chinese labor distribution. In the Russian Far East, because the mortality rate is higher than the birth rate, and a massive outflow of population happens, the population will naturally decrease. Declining in population density deteriorates the composition of the population and constrains economic and social development. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce labors from other areas. Section three is the policies for Chinese immigration in the Russian Far East and section three is summary.
Chapter Three, “The driving forces and constraints for Chinese immigration in Russian Far East”, is divided into five sections. Section one, the economic factor, explains the imbalance among national economic development; however, economic potential of the Far East will help the national economic development.
Therefore, Chinese labors are the main power for the Russian Far East.
Section two, for the international strategic factor, Russia has stepped up with the CIS countries, and the Asian countries, particularly making friendly relationship with China. Russian government plans to contend with the U.S., so it tries to establish a strategic partnership with China. Hence, the introduction of Chinese labors is one of the cooperation projects for Sino-Russia strategic partnership.
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Section three is the geopolitics factor. Discuss about the issues for Chinese immigration in the Russian Far East. Owing to the traditional geopolitical security still form between China and Russia, the “China threat” and “China’s expansion”
theories exist.
The Kremlin political factor for the forth chapter shows that the main leaders of the Russian Far East h changed the attitude toward China, particularly in the electoral system. The local governors also keep in line with the central authorities; on the other hand, Russian government support Russian Far East Federation to cooperate with China. Section five is summary.
Finally, chapter four is for the conclusion to respond the purpose by the above-mentioned sections of the discussion and recommendation.