Theoretical Demands and Constructive Paths for Building an Autonomous Knowledge System of Chinese Borderland Studies From the Perspective of the Holistic View of National Security

Based on the theoretical demands of China’s borderland governance, this paper provides an in-depth analysis of Western security theories—namely, geopolitics, regional reshaping, human security, and securitization—and demonstrates that these theories exhibit structural biases when applied to explaining issues concerning China’s borderlands. Western theories either position borderlands as bargaining chips in great-power balancing, or sever the historical integrity of borderlands through academic discourse, or carry out intervention under the guise of individual security, or stigmatize normal governance through discursive manipulation. Grounded in Western historical experience and interest-based appeals, these theories cannot account for the historical realities of interaction, exchange, and integration in China’s borderlands, nor can they explain the development logic of enriching the people and revitalizing the borderland and of stabilizing and consolidating the borderland. In response, this paper, guided by the Holistic View of National Security, proposes four localized concepts—the “Harmonious Borderland” geopolitical outlook, the “Historical Integrity” borderland regional perspective, the “People’s Security” borderland security outlook, and the “Development and Security” borderland governance outlook—to construct an autonomous knowledge system for China’s borderland security and provide reference for deepening the theoretical development of Chinese Borderland Studies.