Dominik Mierzejewski has a Ph.D. in Humanities and Professorship in Social and Political Science. He is chair at the Center for Asian Affairs, professor at the Department of East Asian Studies, and studied at the Shanghai International Studies University (1999-2000, 2003-2004). He also spent time at the Heritage Foundation (2003), and is a recipient of the Jan Karski Scholarship by the American Center of Polish Culture (2003). He was also a visiting professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Science, granted by the Polish Foundation for Science (2010-2011).Bartosz Kowalski is Assistant Professor at the Department of East Asian Studies of the University of Lodz, and Research Fellow of the Centre for Asian Affairs. His main areas of research are in modern Sino-CEE relations and China's state-building policies in the north-western borderlands.

• 1. Introduction: A Theoretical Understanding of China's Selective Identities.- 2. Building China's State Identity: Borders, Institutions, and Conflicts.- 3. Debating China as an Ideology: Marxism, Revolution, and Materialism.- 4. Beyond the Borders: Utopia, Uniqueness, and Soft-Power.- 5. Conclusions.

Dominik Mierzejewski has a Ph.D. in Humanities and Professorship in Social and Political Science. He is chair at the Center for Asian Affairs, professor at the Department of East Asian Studies, and studied at the Shanghai International Studies University (1999-2000, 2003-2004). He also spent time at the Heritage Foundation (2003), and is a recipient of the Jan Karski Scholarship by the American Center of Polish Culture (2003). He was also a visiting professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Science, granted by the Polish Foundation for Science (2010-2011).Bartosz Kowalski is Assistant Professor at the Department of East Asian Studies of the University of Lodz, and Research Fellow of the Centre for Asian Affairs. His main areas of research are in modern Sino-CEE relations and China's state-building policies in the north-western borderlands.

• 1. Introduction: A Theoretical Understanding of China's Selective Identities.- 2. Building China's State Identity: Borders, Institutions, and Conflicts.- 3. Debating China as an Ideology: Marxism, Revolution, and Materialism.- 4. Beyond the Borders: Utopia, Uniqueness, and Soft-Power.- 5. Conclusions.

Dominik Mierzejewski has a Ph.D. in Humanities and Professorship in Social and Political Science. He is chair at the Center for Asian Affairs, professor at the Department of East Asian Studies, and studied at the Shanghai International Studies University (1999-2000, 2003-2004). He also spent time at the Heritage Foundation (2003), and is a recipient of the Jan Karski Scholarship by the American Center of Polish Culture (2003). He was also a visiting professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Science, granted by the Polish Foundation for Science (2010-2011).Bartosz Kowalski is Assistant Professor at the Department of East Asian Studies of the University of Lodz, and Research Fellow of the Centre for Asian Affairs. His main areas of research are in modern Sino-CEE relations and China's state-building policies in the north-western borderlands.

• 1. Introduction: A Theoretical Understanding of China's Selective Identities.- 2. Building China's State Identity: Borders, Institutions, and Conflicts.- 3. Debating China as an Ideology: Marxism, Revolution, and Materialism.- 4. Beyond the Borders: Utopia, Uniqueness, and Soft-Power.- 5. Conclusions.