Khams-Tibet and Southwest China: Conceptual Reconstruction of the Southwest Frontier Region of China since Early Modern Times

The division of regions in early modern China helped produce special concept of internal in which Khams and Tibet were regarded as a part of west or northwest frontier region of China.The early concept of the or the southwest frontier did not include Khams and Tibet.Since 1930s and under influence of War of Resistance against Japanese Invasion,Khams and Tibet were gradually accepted as an important part of the or the southwest frontier region.Some scholars like Zhang Qiyun proposed a new concept of regional division,which helped form concept of the southwest frontier region.A historical study of this concept reveals application of principle of giving priority to economy or giving priority to national defense in different historical periods.