Historical Prerequisites for the Formation of Kazakh-Chinese Physical Borders: A Source Analysis

Abstract

Kazakhstan's historical development and geopolitical situation are closely intertwined with the Central Asian region and the influence of major neighboring powers, particularly China and Russia. This research focuses on the development of Kazakh-Chinese diplomatic relations beginning with the Dzungar Khanate, which led to the emergence of a physical border between the Kazakh Khanate and the Qing Dynasty. It also examines the growing political influence of the Qing court in Inner Asia, including the Qing Emperor's military campaigns against the Dzungars and invasions of Tibet. Furthermore, the emergence of imperial administrative units in the second half of the 18^th century in Inner and Outer Mongolia, Tibet, and the eastern regions of Central Asia is examined. The paper also discusses and highlights diplomatic treaties between the Qing and Russian empires signed in the 18th and 19th centuries, which subsequently shaped Kazakhstan's modern borders. The formation of administrative units of Qing power in eastern Turkestan in the 18th century gave rise to mistrust of the legitimacy of the borders of modern states in the region, leading to diplomatic problems. By reviewing available surviving primary sources and historiographic narratives, this work explores the complexities of 18th-century border formation, the status of sovereignty in the eyes of empires, and the origins of Kazakh-Chinese relations. This work aims to minimize problems related to the legitimacy of borders between allied states. By analyzing historical events of the 18th and 19th centuries and their contemporary consequences, the research explores how past events connect to the region's current geopolitics, demonstrating that the legitimacy of a state's modern borders is determined by its history.