The disputed island. Tarabarova is no longer on the map, he is now Yinglundao. Tarabarov Island was given to China. The demarcation of the Russian-Chinese border
For the existence of any organized societya certain territory is needed. Moreover, the security and functioning of these lands should be regulated by state acts. But this, as history shows, is clearly not enough. The security and integrity of the country can be ensured only if its borders are clearly defined and recognized by representatives of the entire world community. That is why territorial disputes remain one of the most important issues of foreign policy of each state.
No exception are such great powers,like Russia and China. Initially, between them lay vast in its length of desert or sparsely populated areas. The northern boundary of the Celestial Empire was the Great Wall of China. To date, it is far from the current border. And the distance is more than a thousand kilometers. Of course, it was a long time ago. Then the Chinese could not even think about the fact that the Amur River on the map would become a watershed line between their state and Russia. After all, in those days these territories were the homeland of warlike Manchus. And this people was ethnically far from Han Chinese - indigenous Chinese.
The longest border in the world
History has made its own corrections, and for todayday, we can state that Russia and China are two empires that entered the twentieth century as two neighboring countries. The official border between them has existed for more than one hundred and thirty years. In 1860, the signing of the Beijing Treaty took place, in which "now and forever" was the boundary between the two states.
Russia and China are two states, the lengthwhose borders are the largest in the world. This is a line of ten thousand kilometers. It begins from the point of the borders of Russia, China and Afghanistan and ends with the point of neighborhood of Russia, China and Korea.
Border demarcation
The arrangements of the 19 th -century Beijing Agreement inour days have undergone some changes. They were revised, that is, demarcated borders. This term means clarifying the existing boundaries of the two states. The reason for this may be changes in the river bed, the soil layer, etc. However, the demarcation of the Russian-Chinese border occurred due to the revision and revision of the already existing division line.
The implementation of these works was only partiallyis caused by natural phenomena. So, for 130 years that have passed since the signing of the Beijing Treaty, the river Tumannaya has changed its course. It began to carry its waters across Russia. In addition, documental inaccuracies in fixing frontier marks of both one and the second state were revealed.
Eastern part of the border
The borders that Russia and China have with each other,are divided into two zones. The eastern part of the state border begins from the line of their neighborhood with Mongolia. The length of these lines is more than four thousand kilometers.
Despite the Beijing accords of 1860, the border issue between the two countries has been raised more than once. The division lines between China and Russia were repeatedly moved by local authorities and the population of both states. That is why there was a need to restore the lines as they were fixed when signing various agreements.
Neighborhood History
Almost along its entire length, the easternthe border between the two great powers passed and passes to the present day where the Amur River is located on the map, and also where the Argun and Ussuri rivers flow. However, until the year 1992, this line of division was not adequately demarcated. Until 1931 the border rivers had a free regime of navigation. Water resources of both states freely flowed along their channels. In addition, unsettled numerous river islands were practically in joint ownership.
Everything changed after the beginning of the Japanese aggression,directed against China, and also after the establishment of the puppet state of Manchukuo. For the Soviet Union, this was a clear threat to security. That is why our state had to establish strict control over the river territory. At first, this decision did not cause any objections from China. But since the 60s of the last century, tension began to build between our countries. That is why Soviet control over the water areas of border rivers has become the main source of incidents.
Contested areas
During the negotiations between the USSR and China, a longThe issues of the sovereignty of several sectors were discussed. The first of these were two territories in the Chita region. This is a fairly large island, located on the Argun River, located forty kilometers to the south-east of the city of Zabaikalsk. Its significance for Russia is enormous. The island connects our country with China and Mongolia. In addition, this site is the main source of drinking water for the population of the city of Krasnokamensk, in which almost 90 percent of uranium was produced.
The second disputed site, located in the Chita region, is the island of Menkeseli. He became the subject of disagreement after the Argun changed its current, turning the channel 5 km to the north.
Also, disputes between Russia and China weretwo sites in the Khabarovsk Territory. The first of these is Bolshoi Ussuriysky Island. The territory is located directly near Khabarovsk - Russia's largest city in the Far East.
The island of Tarabarov also provoked disputes. It is located not far from Khabarovsk. This island has a considerable area. In addition, around it is a large number of other islets and islands. Many of them are located where the Ussuri River flows into the Amur. The island of Tarabarova got its name more than a hundred years ago. Then, in 1912, on his territory he settled with his family and established there an economy of a hard-working peasant. His name was Sergey Maksimovich Tarabarov. Officially, the island was fixed for the Soviet Union in 1929. Between the city and it is located the Great Ussuri.
The source of border incidents is also the three territories in the Primorsky region. This site:
- near the lake Khanka;
- R-shaped kind next to Poltava.
The third area consists of two small strips of land north of Lake Khasan.
All the above areas are important for Russia ineconomic plan. That is why they were initially under its direct control. In addition, the island of Tarabarova and significant territories of the Great Ussuriysk are located in the immediate vicinity of Khabarovsk, and therefore, are its protection in case of armed attack.
Making final decisions
In 1991, China and Russia signedagreements finalizing the eastern border. And a year later, demarcation work began on this territory. As a result, the border between the two great powers became clearly marked on the terrain. All works were carried out with the participation of a specially created demarcation commission, in which representatives of both states were present.
For the first time in history from the borders with Mongolia to the river. Foggy 1184 border posts were placed on the fog. The distance between them is 1.5-3 km, and in a number of places with a complex relief - 300-500 m. In addition, several hundred kilometers of glades have been cut and a large number of obsolete engineering structures have been dismantled. We touched upon demarcation works and river territories. A large volume of hydrographic measurements was carried out at the border areas of the Amur and Ussuri, and buoys were installed at the equator of Lake Khanka.
Demarcation work was not onlylaborious, but also very difficult process. So, the local Russian residents of the island of China, located on the border, considered the original Russian territory. After all, they used these lands for their economic purposes. Nevertheless, all work was carried out in accordance with the agreements signed between the two countries. Successful solution of the issues has become a great contribution to strengthening of friendship between Russia and China, as well as strengthening of stability in the region.
Completion of demarcation
Important event in the history of relations between Russiaand China occurred in the fall of 2004. On October 14, another agreement on the passage of the eastern borders was signed in Beijing. It was the end of territorial disputes between the two countries.
According to the signed agreement, the island of Tarabarova and part of the island of the Great Ussuriysk were sent to China.
History of the contentious issue
Who owns the island of Tarabarov and partGreater Ussuriysk, Russia and China could not be solved since 1964. It was then that a territorial dispute began between the two great powers, which was never fully resolved.
In order to get both one and the secondriver island, the Chinese began an irrigation war against the USSR. It consisted in the regular flooding in the Kazakevichev's channel with a barge with sand. The purpose of such works was the direction of the channel to the islands and its connection with the Chinese shore. In this case, the islands of Bolshoi Ussuriisky and Tarabarova would automatically be on the territory of the Celestial Empire. But this venture was failed, as the Russians constantly deepened the bottom of the Amur and fortified its banks. And only the 2004 agreement put an end to the prolonged irrigation war.
What did China get?
According to the signed agreements, Russiatransferred the neighboring country to the island of Tarabarova. They gave China and the western part of the Great Ussuriysk (it was divided approximately equally). To date, these territories are the province of Heilongjiang.
How does the current border? After the part of the Great Ussuriysky, and also the island of Tarabarov was given to China, the boundary between the two countries began to pass along the coastal part of Khabarovsk. And the dachas of local residents, located on the Great Ussuriysk, remained on the Russian side. The rest went to the Chinese. In total, Russia gave the neighboring state 337 square kilometers of its area.
What changed after the transfer of the territory?
To date, Fr. Tarabarova and part of the Great Ussuriysk are the islands of China. The neighboring state became closer to Khabarovsk at once for fifty kilometers. Earlier, the Great Ussuriysk defended Russia from a military attack. On its territory there was a fortified area. To date, the military left all the engineering facilities and moved to a new outpost.
The main attraction of the BolshoiUssuriisky is an Orthodox chapel erected in honor of St. Victor. The Chinese were sympathetic to our religious shrine and carried the line of the border away from the temple.
Today, the territories given by Russia, according to the agreement of 2004, is the province of Heilongjiang in the county of Fuyuan. Russian islands Tarabarova and Bolshoi Ussuriysk - about. Inpuntao and Fr. Heixiangzidao.
From the south in the northern direction on these lands alreadybuilt the main road. Along its western side is the active construction of the "Most Eastern Pagoda". This is a multi-storey tower, reaching a height of 81 m, having a square shape. Its architecture is made in the style of the Tan and Han dynasties. The pagoda, which will rise just opposite the chapel of St. Victor, will make a bright symbol of the territory received by China. The tower is so high that you can see it from a Russian village in the Amur floodplain.
It is also worth mentioning that it has changed itsthe geographical position is the easternmost point of China. Previously, she was in the village of Usu, and now moved to Heixiangzi. As a result, the Chinese began to meet the rising sun fifty-eight seconds earlier.
The islands are actively visited by tourists from both countries. For example, in 2015 the number of travelers was about half a million.
Natural resources of the transferred territories
The island of Tarabarova, like the Great Ussuriysk,has rich lands. Up to seventy percent of their areas can be used as pastures, hayfields and plowlands. In addition, the islands are inhabited by fur-bearing animals, as well as ungulates and waterfowl. There are species on these lands that are listed in the Red Books of the USSR, Russia and the International Union. Their list includes: Japanese and black cranes, black storks, dry skin, mandarin, leathery Far Eastern tortoise, etc.
Floodplain lakes, as well as the waters of the Amur River and itsThe channels are rich in fish. There are also protected species. This is a Chinese perch-aukha and a black cupid. Around the islands, migratory migrations are made by autumn keta and lamprey.
Yes, China has been given rich lands. However, the Russian side believes that in the economic plan it did not incur significant losses. Our country has big plans. They assume the creation of a joint Russian-Chinese trade zone in these territories. This will allow us to provide normal conditions for the implementation of the trade turnover between the province of Heilongjiang and the Khabarovsk Territory. And for today in the federal budget the financing necessary for the construction of a bridge from Khabarovsk to the island of Heixiangzi has already begun to be pawned.