Cooperation and Conflict among Provinces: The Three Northeastern Provinces of China, the Russian Far East, and Sinuiju, North Korea

Abstract

The development of cooperative relations between provinces in Northeast Asia has been reinforced by the global trend toward localization and decentralization. The relationship between China`s three northeastern provinces and the Russian Far East may be seen as a mixture of cooperation and conflict. China imports the natural resources necessary for its economic growth from neighboring Siberia and the Russian Far East, while these regions of Russia make up for their shortage of consumer goods, foodstuffs, and labor by importing, from China. Cooperation and exchange are positive aspects of this relationship while controversy over the migration of Chinese labor to the Russian Far East is a negative aspect. The conflict has intensified due to Russia`s fear of China`s increasing power.\nRelations between Sinuiju in North Korea and Dandong in China are a mixture of cooperation and subordination. The two areas function as gateways to their respective countries, but China disrupted North Korea`s efforts to establish the Sinuiju special administrative region in 2002 because of the city`s proximity to Dandong. However, since 2006, China has been mapping out a plan for the development of Sinuiju in connection with its plan to develop Dandong, and North Korea appears to assent to this. It seems that China is taking the lead in the development of Sinuiju.