Sino-Mongolian relations

The bilateral relations between the Mongolia and the People's Republic of China have been marked by territorial disputes and security issues as well as the influence of Russia. Mongolia's southern border is with China's Inner Mongolia region.

Background

Through history, Mongolia and China have waged many wars. China's Great Wall was constructed to ward off invading hordes from Mongolia and Central Asia. Mongols under Kublai Khan successfully conquered much of China and established the Yuan dynasty, and Mongolia later fell under control of the Qing dynasty of China. With the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911, Mongolia declared its independence after almost 300 years of Chinese rule. Although many peoples of Inner Mongolia sought to accede to the new state, China retained its control over the area and invaded Mongolia in 1919.cite journal |year=1984 |month=08 |title=China-Mongolia Boundary |journal=International Boundary Study |issue=173 |pages=2-6 |url=http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/collection/LimitsinSeas/IBS173.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=The Geographer, Bureau of Intelligence and Research |accessdate=2008-06-16 ] cite web |title=Chinese Look To Their Neighbours For New Opportunities To Trade |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/1998/08/04/chitrade.t.php |publisher=International Herald Tribune |date=1998-08-04 |accessdate=2008-06-15] Consequently, Mongolia sought Soviet Russian influence to counter Chinese threats, and Chinese forces were driven back by the Red Army of the Soviet Union and in 1924, the Mongolian People's Republic was formed.cite journal |year=1984 |month=08 |title=China-Mongolia Boundary |journal=International Boundary Study |issue=173 |pages=2-6 |url=http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/collection/LimitsinSeas/IBS173.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=The Geographer, Bureau of Intelligence and Research |accessdate=2008-06-16 ]

Communist era

The People's Republic of China established diplomatic relations with Mongolia on October 16, 1949 and both nations signed a border treaty in 1962.cite journal |year=1984 |month=08 |title=China-Mongolia Boundary |journal=International Boundary Study |issue=173 |pages=2-6 |url=http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/collection/LimitsinSeas/IBS173.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=The Geographer, Bureau of Intelligence and Research |accessdate=2008-06-16 ] With the Sino-Soviet split, Mongolia aligned itself with the Soviet Union and the presence of Soviet forces heightened China's concerns.cite web |title=Mongolia-China relations |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+mn0146) |publisher=Library of Congress |accessdate=2008-06-15] Mongolia has always been concerned by China's claims over territory it claims to have been lost to Mongolia and by fears of China's overpopulation pouring into Mongolian territory.cite web |title=Mongolia-China relations |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+mn0146) |publisher=Library of Congress |accessdate=2008-06-15] cite web |title=Chinese Look To Their Neighbours For New Opportunities To Trade |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/1998/08/04/chitrade.t.php |publisher=International Herald Tribune |date=1998-08-04 |accessdate=2008-06-15] As a result, bilateral ties remained tense until 1984, when a high-level Chinese delegation visited Mongolia and both nations began to survey and demarcate their borders. In 1986, a series of agreements to bolster trade and establishing transport and air links were signed.cite web |title=Mongolia-China relations |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+mn0146) |publisher=Library of Congress |accessdate=2008-06-15] In 1988, both nations signed a treaty on border control. Mongolia also began asserting an independent policy to pursue friendly ties with China and seeking the withdrawal of Soviet troops from its territory, a departure from Soviet domination and meeting a long-standing Chinese demand.cite web |title=Mongolia-China relations |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+mn0146) |publisher=Library of Congress |accessdate=2008-06-15]

Modern period

In the Post-Cold War era, China has taken major steps to normalize its relationship with Mongolia, emphasizing its respect for Mongolia's sovereignty and independence. In 1994, Chinese Premier Li Peng signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation. China has become Mongolia's biggest trade partner and source of foreign investment as well as the destination for 48% of Mongolian cite web |title="Pan-Mongolism" and U.S.-China-Mongolia relations |url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=408&issue_id=3322&article_id=2369707 |publisher=Jamestown Foundation |date=2005-06-29 |accessdate=2008-06-15] Bilateral trade reached USD 1.13 billion by the first nine months of 2007, registering an increase of 90% from 2006.cite web |title=China breathes new life into Mongolia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China_Business/II01Cb02.html |publisher=Asia Times |date=2007-09-12 |accessdate=2008-06-16] China offered to allow the use of its Tianjin port to give Mongolia and its goods access to trade with the Asia Pacific region.cite web |title="Pan-Mongolism" and U.S.-China-Mongolia relations |url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=408&issue_id=3322&article_id=2369707 |publisher=Jamestown Foundation |date=2005-06-29 |accessdate=2008-06-15] China also expanded its investments in Mongolia's mining industries, seeking to exploit the country's natural resources.cite web |title=China breathes new life into Mongolia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China_Business/II01Cb02.html |publisher=Asia Times |date=2007-09-12 |accessdate=2008-06-16] cite web |title="Pan-Mongolism" and U.S.-China-Mongolia relations |url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=408&issue_id=3322&article_id=2369707 |publisher=Jamestown Foundation |date=2005-06-29 |accessdate=2008-06-15] Mongolia and China have stepped up cooperation on fighting terrorism and bolstering regional security. China is likely to support Mongolia's membership in to the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and granting it observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.cite web |title="Pan-Mongolism" and U.S.-China-Mongolia relations |url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=408&issue_id=3322&article_id=2369707 |publisher=Jamestown Foundation |date=2005-06-29 |accessdate=2008-06-15]

References