China’s Expansionist Policy and Border Disputes

          China’s growing influence on the international stage and its expansionist policies have become one of the most important geopolitical developments of today. Historically seeing itself as the centre of the world and describing other peoples as “barbarians”, China has placed this ideological basis at the centre of its expansionist strategies. This policy, deeply rooted in Confucian thought and Chinese political culture, aimed at assimilating neighbouring peoples and expanding their territories. From the Ming Dynasty to the present day, this strategy pursued by China has profoundly affected border disputes and power balances at the regional and global levels. China’s claims of sovereignty over East Turkistan and the assimilation policies it implements are seen as a part of this expansionist strategy. East Turkistan, which has been home to many Turkish states throughout history, is being systematically changed by China’s demographic, cultural and economic policies. This report aims to evaluate the regional and global effects of China’s strategic goals by examining China’s historical and ideological background, its policies in East Turkestan and its border problems with other countries, especially India.