China Urged to Build 'Original' Border History System to Counter Western 'Threat'

A new battleground is emerging in geopolitics: the writing of history. A senior scholar at a prominent Chinese state-run think tank has called for the establishment of an “original” knowledge system for its border regions, designed specifically to mitigate security risks from what he terms “hostile forces in the West”.

According to reports, Fan Enshi of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) warned of a “de-Sinicisation” threat in US-led historical perspectives. He is advocating for a shift from “fragmented research” to systematic domestic theories that can better project Chinese influence.

From 'Fragmented Research' to Systematic Theory

Fan's proposal stems from a critique of current historical research methods within China. He argues that existing studies are too “fragmented” to effectively counter historical narratives from abroad. In his view, a unified and systematic theory regarding China's border regions isn't just an academic exercise—it's a matter of national security.

Geopolitical Influence and the War of Narratives

This call appears to be part of China's broader strategy to wield historical narratives as a tool for geopolitical influence. By building its own knowledge system, Beijing could create a theoretical foundation to counter Western perspectives and legitimize its own positions on the world stage. This suggests an impending escalation in the “war of narratives” over historical interpretation.