SOCIAL SECURITY AND ETHNIC RELATIONS OF VIETNAM-CHINA BORDER-CROSSING LABOR: A CASE STUDY IN VAN QUAN DISTRICT (LANG SON PROVINCE) AND BAO LAC DISTRICT (CAO BANG PROVINCE)

Abstract

The provinces in the Vietnam-China border area which are home to more than 20 ethnic minorities have an important position in national defense and play an important role in cultural - historical issues and ethnic relations. For more than a decade now, this place has been bustling with illegal border-crossing labors of ethnic minorities. So, how does border-crossing labor affect social security and ethnic relations in border areas? This article presents and analyzes to clarify the answers using field data collected by qualitative methods (in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, directly observations) in Lang Son and Cao Bang provinces during years 2019-2020. Research results show that border-crossing labor represents social insecurity in the border areas and reflects ethnic relationships that have continued from history to the present. Therefore, it is necessary to solve social security issues in the border areas to reduce illegal border-crossing labor activities and promote the positive aspects of ethnic relations in social stability, ensuring national security.