Borders of migration: a comparative legal perspective between EU and China

This article analyses the notion of borders as a comparative perspective between EU external borders and China’s internal borders. Despite the abundant literature investigating EU external borders and China’s internal administrative borders from the perspective of migration, practically no study has attempted a comparison between the two so far. This article argues that China’s internal borders are worthy of consideration within comparative analyses and present the opportunity of improving European understandings of contemporary borders. After outlining the aims, objectives and method of this comparison, a historical background of borders of migration is provided in both contexts. The relationship between borders and legal affiliation at stake of EU external borders and China’s internal borders is then analyzed. The comparative outlook on borders of migration will individuate two alternative declinations of contemporary borders. Since China’s internal borders do not prevent freedom of movement, yet they persistently endure by allocating of Chinese citizens to different welfare statuses, this article argues that traversable but enduring borders currently exist in China. In the case of EU’s external borders, this paper ascertains fortified but inclusive borders as the outcome of an increased securitization coupled with EU’s far-reaching welfare approach.