China–Russia border explained

The Chinese–Russian border or the Sino-Russian border is the international border between China and Russia. After the final demarcation carried out in the early 2000s, it measures,[1] and is the world's sixth-longest international border. According to the Russian border agency, as of October 1, 2013, there are more than 160 land border crossings between Russia and China, all of these border crossings are open 24 hours. There are crossing points established by the treaty including railway crossings, highway crossings, river crossing, and mostly ferry crossings.[2] [3]

Description

The eastern border section is over in length. According to a joint estimate published in 1999, it measured at 4195km (2,607miles).[4] It starts at the eastern China–Mongolia–Russia tripoint (49.8451°N 116.713°W), marked by the border monument called Tarbagan-Dakh (Ta'erbagan Dahu, Tarvagan Dakh).[5] [6] From the tripoint, the border line runs north-east, until it reaches the Argun River. The border follows the Argun and Amur river to the confluence of the latter with the Ussuri River. Itdivides the Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island at the confluence of the two rivers, and then runs south along the Ussuri. The border crosses Lake Khanka, and finally runs to the south-west. The China–Russia border ends when it reaches the Tumen River, which is the northern border of North Korea. The end point of the China–Russia border, and the China–North Korea–Russia tripoint, at, is located only a few kilometers before the river flows into the Pacific Ocean, the other end of the North Korea–Russia border.

The much shorter (less than) western border section is between Russia's Altai Republic and China's Xinjiang. It runs in the mostly snow-covered high elevation area of the Altai Mountains. Its western end point is the China–Kazakhstan–Russia tripoint, whose location is defined by the trilateral agreement as 49.115°N 87.2867°W, elevation, 3327 m.[7] Its eastern end is the western China–Mongolia–Russia tripoint, at the top of the peak Tavan Bogd Uul (Mt Kuitun),[8] [9] at the coordinates 49.1704°N 87.8156°W.[6] [9] [10]

History

Tsarist era (pre-1917)

Today's Sino-Russian border line is mostly inherited by Russia (with minor adjustments) from the Soviet Union, while the Sino-Soviet border line was essentially the same as the border between the Russian and Qing Empires, settled by a number of treaties from the 17th through to the 19th centuries. Border issues first became an issue following Russia's rapid expansion into Siberia in the 17th century, with intermittent skirmishes occurring between them and Qing China.[11] Below is a list of important border treaties, along with the indication as to which section of today's Sino-Russian border were largely set by them:

Sino-Soviet border (1917–1991)

Following the Russian Revolution in 1917 and the later formation of the Soviet Union, there have been a number of issues along the border:

Three countries bordered both China and the Soviet Union: Afghanistan, Mongolia and North Korea. Both the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and Mongolian People's Republic were pro-Soviet satellite states during the Cold War, while the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was neutral.

Post-1991

The waning years of the Soviet Union saw a reduction of the tensions on the then heavily fortified Sino-Soviet border. In 1990–91, the two countries agreed to significantly reduce their military forces stationed along the border. To this day one can find numerous abandoned military facilities in Russia's border districts.[14]

Even though the Sino-Soviet border trade resumed as early as 1983–85, it accelerated in 1990–91; the rate of cross-border trade continued to increase as the USSR's former republics became separate states. To accommodate increasing volume of travel and private trade, a number of border crossings were re-opened. In early 1992, China announced border trade incentives and the creation of special economic zones (SEZs) along the Sino-Russian border, the largest of these being in Hunchun, Jilin.

In 1991, China and USSR signed the 1991 Sino-Soviet Border Agreement, which was intended to start the process of resolving the border disputes held in abeyance since the 1960s. However, just a few months later the USSR was dissolved, and four former Soviet republics — Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan — inherited various sections of the former Sino–Soviet border.

It took more than a decade for Russia and China to fully resolve the border issues and to demarcate the border. On May 29, 1994, during Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin's visit to Beijing, an "Agreement on the Sino-Russian Border Management System intended to facilitate border trade and hinder criminal activity" was signed. On September 3, a demarcation agreement was signed for the short western section of the binational border; the demarcation of this section was completed in 1998.

In November 1997, at a meeting in Beijing, Russian President Boris Yeltsin and General Secretary and Chinese President Jiang Zemin signed an agreement for the demarcation of the much longer (over) eastern section of the border, in accordance with the provisions of the 1991 Sino-Soviet agreement.

The last unresolved territorial issue between the two countries was settled by the 2004 Complementary Agreement between China and Russia on the Eastern Section of the China–Russia Boundary.[15] Pursuant to that agreement, Russia transferred to China a part of Abagaitu Islet, the entire Yinlong (Tarabarov) Island, about half of Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island, and some adjacent river islets. The transfer was ratified by both the Chinese National People's Congress and the Russian State Duma in 2005, thus ending the decades-long border dispute. The official transfer ceremony was held on-site on October 14, 2008.

Border management

As with many other international borders, a bilateral treaty exists concerning the physical modalities of managing the China–Russia border. The currently valid agreement was signed in Beijing in 2006.[16]

The treaty requires the two states to clear trees in a -wide strip along the border (i.e. within from the border line on each side of it) (Article 6).[16]

Civil navigation is allowed on the border rivers and lakes, provided the vessels of each country stay on the appropriate side of the dividing line (Article 9); similar rules apply to fishing in these waters (Article 10).Each country's authorities will carry out appropriate measures to prevent grazing livestock from crossing into the other country and will endeavor to apprehend and return any livestock that wanders onto their territory from across the border (Article 17). Hunting using firearms is prohibited within from the borderline; hunters are prohibited from crossing the border in pursuit of a wounded animal (Article 19).[16]

Detained illegal border crossers are supposed to be normally returned to their country of origin within 7 days from their apprehension (Article 34).[16]

Border crossings

Eastern section

A list of ports-of-entry on the eastern section is provided by China Association of Port-of-entry:

China–Russia border crossings (eastern section)! Name!Type of crossing transports!Bordering Chinese town!Bordering Russian town!Open to third country nationals!Notes
Changchun Airport[17] airbetween Jiutaidonghu, Changchun and Longjia, Jilin City, Jilin Provincen/aYesair lines of Viadivostok-Bangkok and Vladivostok-Yekaterinburg stop here, also to/from Vladivostok
Yanji Airport[18] airYanji, Yanbian, JilinNoseasonal air lines to Vladivostok
-Kameshovaya/Makhalino[19] railwayHunchun, Yanbian, JilinKraskino, Khasansky District, Primorsky KraiNothe only railway crossing at Jilin section
-Kraskino[20] roadYesthe only road crossing at Jilin section, connects (with indirectly,, and)
-Poltavka[21] roadSanchakou, Dongning, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang, Oktyabrsky District, Primorsky KraiYesconnects and indirectly
-[22] railwaySuifenhe, Mudanjiang, HeilongjiangPogranichny, Pogranichny District, Primorsky KraiYesprior to COVID-19 pandemic, (401E/402E) runs through here
-Pogranichny[23] roadYesconnects (with indirectly, and) and 05A-215, part of
Mudanjiang[24] airMudanjiang, Heilongjiangn/aNoregular air lines to Viadivostok, Yakutsk and Khabarovsk
-Turiy Rog[25] roadDangbi, Mishan, Jixi, Heilongjiang, Khankaysky District, Primorsky KraiYesconnects (with indirectly and), nearby Lake Khanka
-Markovo[26] roadHulin, Jixi, HeilongjiangMarkovo, Lesozavodsk, Primorsky KraiYesconnects, and indirectly
Raohe-Pokrovka[27] shippingRaohe, Shuangyashan, HeilongjiangPokrovka, Bikin, Khabarovsk KraiNoboats available during Spring through Autumn, car crossing in Winter only, connects, and indirectly when car traffic available
Heixiazi-Bolshoy Ussuriysky[28] roadFuyuan, Jiamusi, HeilongjiangKhabarovsk, Khabarovsk Kraiplanned, expected only aboriginal peoples of the island and nearby towns can cross, will connect and indirectly
Fuyuan-Khabarovsk[29] shippingYescurrently the easternmost port-of-entry of China in use, boats available during Spring through Autumn, car crossing in Winter only, connects,, and indirectly when car traffic available
-Nizhneleninskoye[30] railwayTongjiang, Jiamusi, HeilongjiangNizhneleninskoye, Leninsky District, Jewish Autonomous OblastNo

See also: Tongjiang-Nizhneleninskoye railway bridge.

-Nizhneleninskoye[31] shippingNoboats available during Spring through Autumn, hovercraft and car crossing in Winter only, connects, and indirectly when car traffic available
Fujin[32] shippingFujin, Jiamusi, Heilongjiangn/aNointernational boats to ports of Nizhneleninskoye, Khabarovsk, Komsomolsk, Nikolayevsk and Sea of Japan
Jiamusi[33] shippingJiamusi, HeilongjiangNointernational boats to ports of Nizhneleninskoye, Khabarovsk, Komsomolsk, Nikolayevsk and Sea of Japan
Luobei-Amurzet[34] shippingLuobei, Hegang, HeilongjiangAmurzet, Jewish Autonomous OblastYesboats available during Spring through Autumn, car crossing in Winter only, connects (with indirectly) when car traffic available
Harbin[35] airHarbin, Heilongjiangn/aYes
Harbin[36] railwayYesTrans-Eurasia Logistics dry port, was the terminus of K7023/7024 Harbin-Khabarovsk/Vladivostok Train (005/006/351/352)
Harbin[37] shippingwas having international boats to ports of Khabarovsk, Komsomolsk, Nikolayevsk, Blagoveshchensk and Sea of Japan, unavailable in recent years
Jiamusi Airport[38] airJiamusi, HeilongjiangNoseasonal air lines to Khabarovsk
Jiayin-Pashkovo[39] shippingJiayin, Yichun, HeilongjiangPashkovo, Obluchensky District, Jewish Autonomous Oblastcurrently under renovation, if re-opened, it may connect (with indirectly) during winter
Xunke-Poyarkovo[40] shippingXunke, Heihe, HeilongjiangPoyarkovo, Mikhaylovsky District, Amur OblastNoboats available during Spring through Autumn, hovercraft and car crossing in Winter only, connects indirectly
Qiqihar Airport[41] airQiqihar, HeilongjiangNoseasonal air lines to Blagoveshchensk and Krasnoyarsk
Sunwu-Konstantinovka[42] shippingSunwu, Heihe, HeilongjiangKonstantinovka, Konstantinovsky District, Amur Oblastcurrently not available as there are concerns at Amur Oblast authorities, if opened in the future, it may connect indirectly during winter
Heihe-Blagoveshchensk[43] roadHeihe, HeilongjiangBlagoveshchensk, Amur OblastYes

See main article: Blagoveshchensk–Heihe Bridge. connects (with indirectly,, and), part of

Heihe-Blagoveshchensk[44] pedestrain (gondola)under construction
-Blagoveshchensk[45] shippingYesboats available during Spring through Autumn, hovercraft and car crossing in Winter only
Huma-Ushakovo[46] shippingHuma, Daxing'anling, HeilongjiangUshakovo, Shimanovsky District, Amur Oblastcurrently not available as there are concerns at Amur Oblast authorities, if opened in the future, it may connect and indirectly during winter
Mohe-Dzhalinda[47] shippingMohe, Daxing'anling, HeilongjiangDzhalinda, Skovorodinsky District, Amur OblastNoboats available during Spring through Autumn, car crossing in Winter only, connects (with indirectly and) when car traffic available
-Olochi[48] roadShiwei, Ergun, Hulunbuir, Inner MongoliaOlochi, Nerchinsko-Zavodsky District, Zabaykalsky KraiYesconnects
-Starotsurukhaitu[49] roadErgun, Hulunbuir, Inner MongoliaStarotsurukhaitu, Priargunsky District, Zabaykalsky KraiNo
Hailar[50] airHailar, Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolian/awas having Chita-Pyongyang air lines stopping decades ago
-Zabaykalsk[51] roadManzhouli, Hulunbuir, Inner MongoliaZabaykalsk, Zabaykalsky District, Zabaykalsky KraiYesconnects, (with indirectly and) and, part of
Manzhouli-[52] railwayYesprior to COVID-19 pandemic, (019Ch/020She) runs through here, break-of-gauge at Zabaykalsk
Manzhouli[53] airn/aYesregular air lines to Chita, Ulan-Ude, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Abakan and Novosibirsk
Hohhot[54] airHohhot, Inner Mongolian/aYesregular air lines to Irkutsk

Western section

According to Russian topographic maps, the lowest mountain passes on the western section of the border are the Betsu-Kanas Pass (перевал Бетсу-Канас), elevation [10] and Kanas (перевал Канас), elevation .[55] No roads suitable for wheeled vehicles exist over these two passes, although a difficult dirt road approaches from the Russian side to within from the Kanas Pass. Until the Soviet authorities closed the border in 1936, Kazakh nomads would occasionally use these passes.[56]

Proposals exist for the construction of a cross-border highway and the Altai gas pipeline from China to Russia, which would cross the western section of the Sino-Russian border.[57]

Historical maps

Historical maps of the border from west to east in the International Map of the World, mid-20th century:

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.rosgranitsa.ru/ru/activity/international/countries/china Китай
  2. http://www.rosgranitsa.ru/ru/activity/international/countries/china Китай
  3. The 1994 agreement is: Соглашение между Правительством Российской Федерации и Правительством Китайской Народной Республики о пунктах пропуска на российско-китайской государственной границе. Пекин, 27 января 1994 года (The Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the border crossing points on the Russia–China international border. Beijing, January 27, 1994). The text only lists 21 border crossing points.
  4. Sébastien Colin, Le développement des relations frontalières entre la Chine et la Russie, études du CERI n°96, July 2003. (Note: this publication preceded the 2004 final settlement, and thus the estimate may slightly differ from the current number).
  5. http://old.lawru.info/base32/part9/d32ru9847.htm ПРОТОКОЛ-ОПИСАНИЕ ТОЧКИ ВОСТОЧНОГО СТЫКА ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫХ ГРАНИЦ ТРЕХ ГОСУДАРСТВ МЕЖДУ ПРАВИТЕЛЬСТВОМ Российской Федерации, ПРАВИТЕЛЬСТВОМ МОНГОЛИИ и ПРАВИТЕЛЬСТВОМ КИТАЙСКОЙ НАРОДНОЙ РЕСПУБЛИКИ
  6. http://old.lawru.info/base33/part6/d33ru6020.htm Соглашением между Правительством Российской Федерации, Правительством Китайской Народной Республики и Правительством Монголии об определении точек стыков государственных границ трех государств (Заключено в г. Улан-Баторе 27 января 1994 года)
  7. http://base.spinform.ru/show_doc.fwx?rgn=8349 Соглашение между Российской Федерацией, Республикой Казахстан и Китайской Народной Республикой об определении точки стыка государственных границ трех государств, от 5 мая 1999 года
  8. http://www.npc.gov.cn/wxzl/wxzl/2001-01/02/content_3265.htm 中华人民共和国和俄罗斯联邦关于中俄国界西段的协定
  9. http://old.lawru.info/base32/part9/d32ru9848.htm ПРОТОКОЛ-ОПИСАНИЕ ТОЧКИ ЗАПАДНОГО СТЫКА ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫХ ГРАНИЦ ТРЕХ ГОСУДАРСТВ МЕЖДУ ПРАВИТЕЛЬСТВОМ Российской Федерации, ПРАВИТЕЛЬСТВОМ МОНГОЛИИ и ПРАВИТЕЛЬСТВОМ КИТАЙСКОЙ НАРОДНОЙ РЕСПУБЛИКИ (ПОДПИСАН в г. ПЕКИНЕ 24.06.1996)
  10. Soviet Topo map M45-104, scale 1:100,000,
  11. Web site: International Boundary Study No. 64 (revised) - China-USSR Boundary . US Department of State . 13 February 1978. https://web.archive.org/web/20140817014321/http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/collection/LimitsinSeas/IBS064.pdf . 15 September 2020. 2014-08-17 .
  12. Web site: НАЧАЛО РУССКО-КИТАЙСКОГО РАЗГРАНИЧЕНИЯ В ЦЕНТРАЛЬНОЙ АЗИИ. ЧУГУЧАКСКИЙ ПРОТОКОЛ 1864 г. . 2013-01-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121226035604/http://new.hist.asu.ru/biblio/ruskit/02.html . 2012-12-26 . dead .
  13. People.com.cn. "People.com.cn ." 1969年珍宝岛自卫反击战. Retrieved on 5 November 2009.
  14. Numerous photo reports from such sites exist on the internet. See e.g. Заброшенный укрепрайон на Большом Уссурийском острове (Abandoned fortified area in Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island)
  15. . October 14, 2004
  16. http://www.rosgranitsa.ru/ru/node/3140 Соглашение между Правительством Российской Федерации и Правительством Китайской Народной Республики о режиме российско-китайской государственной границы
  17. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 长春空运口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  18. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 延吉空运口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  19. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 珲春陆路(铁路)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  20. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 珲春陆路(公路)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  21. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 东宁陆路(公路)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  22. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 绥芬河陆路(铁路)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  23. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 绥芬河陆路(公路)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  24. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 牡丹江空运口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  25. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 密山陆路(公路)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  26. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 虎林陆路(公路)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  27. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 饶河水运(河港)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  28. Web site: 2021-11-02 . 黑瞎子岛陆路(公路)客运口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  29. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 抚远水运(河港)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  30. Web site: 2021-11-02 . 同江陆路(铁路)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  31. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 同江水运(河港)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  32. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 富锦水运(河港)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  33. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 佳木斯水运(河港)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  34. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 萝北水运(河港)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  35. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 哈尔滨空运口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  36. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 哈尔滨陆路(铁路)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  37. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 哈尔滨水运(河港)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  38. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 佳木斯空运口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  39. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 嘉荫水运(河港)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  40. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 逊克水运(河港)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  41. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 齐齐哈尔空运口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  42. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 孙吴水运(河港)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  43. Web site: 2021-11-02 . 黑河陆路(公路)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  44. Web site: 2021-11-02 . 黑河(步行)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  45. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 黑河水运(河港)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  46. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 呼玛水运(河港)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  47. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 漠河水运(河港)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  48. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 室韦陆路(公路)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  49. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 黑山头陆路(公路)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  50. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 海拉尔空运口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  51. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 满洲里陆路(公路)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  52. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 满洲里陆路(铁路)口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  53. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 满洲里空运口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  54. Web site: 2019-02-19 . 呼和浩特空运口岸 . 2023-07-19 . China Association of Port-of-entry.
  55. http://galt-auto.ru/publ/230-1-0-374 Перевал Канас
  56. http://galt-auto.ru/publ/230-1-0-375 Перевал Бетсу-Канас
  57. http://www.ngv.ru/news/pereval_kanas_stanet_punktom_sdachi_gaza_rf_kitayskim_parteram_po_zapadnomu_marshrutu/ Перевал "Канас" станет пунктом сдачи газа РФ китайским партерам по "западному маршруту"