RISING TO GLOBAL PROMINENCE: THE SUBNATIONAL ROLEOF HAINAN PROVINCE IN CHINA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS

Abstract

This study examines the trajectory through which Hainan, an island province of China, has emerged as an international actor. Drawing on the analytical framework of subnational diplomacy and employing a qualitative research approach, this study analyses the factors that have enabled Hainan to function as an international actor across four dimensions: motivation, opportunity, strategy, and presence. A comparative analysis is conducted with Guangxi, China’s southwestern subnational region bordering countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The findings indicate that the trajectory of Hainan’s international participation has been shaped by a combination of factors, including its geographical location, resource endowment, economic conditions, local leadership, and national strategies. These factors have contributed to Hainan’s distinctive role in China’s foreign relations, which differs from Guangxi’s primarily ASEAN-oriented engagement. By highlighting this contrast, the study demonstrates the diverse patterns of international participation among Chinese provinces and contributes to expanding existing research on China’s subnational actors in foreign affairs.