International Relations

China's Economic Diplomacy Toward Mongolia: Belt and Road, Currency Swaps, and the Politics of Vulnerability

Nasanbat Enkhtugs — 2026-01-23

This study examines China’s contemporary economic diplomacy and its implications for Mongolia, with a particular focus on renminbi currency swap agreements, development financing, and the China–Mongolia–Russia Economic Corridor under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Drawing on historical and contemporary developments, the paper argues that although Chinese financial instruments—especially the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) swap line—have provided Mongolia with short-term liquidity support, exchange-rate stability, and crisis-management capacity, they have simultaneously contributed to Mongolia’s mounting foreign-currency liabilities and structural vulnerabilities. Mongolia’s persistent dependence on mineral exports, heavy import reliance, high external debt, and fragile financial sector place it in the “high vulnerability” category according to international assessment frameworks. The analysis demonstrates that the swap agreement is less an instrument of “debt-trap diplomacy” and more an extension of China’s broader strategy to internationalize the renminbi and expand regional financial influence. For Mongolia, the swap serves as a temporary stabilizing tool rather than a sustainable solution. Long-term economic security requires deeper structural reforms, improved debt management, diversification beyond mining, and a balanced, transparent approach in cooperation with China.

Contribution of Social Media to Political Polarization Among University Students

Misheel Bayasakh — 2026-01-23

This study investigates the contribution of social media to political polarization among university students from the United States and Mongolia. Data was collected using an online survey distributed to currently active students at the University of Southern Indiana (USI) and the National University of Mongolia (NUM).
The findings of this study reveal that social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and X (formerly known as Twitter) are social media platforms used among students the most. Students spend approximately 2-5 hours per day on social media on average. While respondents perceive social media to be an efficient tool for political engagement such as getting news, the data report suggests selective exposure behaviors in students, such as muting, blocking or unfollowing individuals who had differing views from them, which contribute to the creation of echo chambers.
The study highlights the role of social media in strengthening ideological divergence while encouraging civic involvement. These findings emphasize the nuanced relationship between social media and political polarization.

Mongolian Democracy Compared to Central Asia Post-Independence

Dulguun Gantumur — 2026-01-23

Mongolia stands out in Inner Asia as being the only country to be classified as a democracy, surrounded by the authoritarian regimes of China and Russia. It is also unique in being the sole Asian country to have emerged out of the dissolution of the Soviet Union as a democracy, despite being integrated into the Soviet economy as much as other former Soviet republics. The experiences of newly formed Central Asian and Caucasian states (with the exception of Georgia) have been that they have either failed to democratize such as with Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, or backslid from democracy such is the case with Kyrgyzstan. This anomalous democratization is a culmination of Mongolia’s unique historical experiences and economic conditions which influenced how it handled global processes affecting all former Soviet states at the same time, setting it apart from other Central Asian states, despite the surface-level similarities. Mongolia’s pre-existing national identity, experience with statehood, and anti- Chinese sentiments interacted with the economic conditions at the time of the collapse, forcing Mongolia to adopt economic reforms and seek international aid. Democratic norms were then built and strengthened in the country through both the need to reform and nationalistic sentiments among the political elites.
This stands in contrast to Central Asian states, which historically did not have experience with statehood, and therefore, were suddenly tasked with state and nation-building when the Soviet Union collapsed. While they too took on nationalist rhetoric to gain legitimacy, this worked to sediment the pre-existing authoritarian rule rather than democratize institutions. Their economic conditions enabled this authoritarian rule, allowing for the elites to delay economic reform which could potentially work to undermine their rule. But as more time has passed since their independence, different states have undertaken different paths to reform and democratization, differentiating their experiences as will be noted later.

Using Artificial Intelligence in Foreign Policy Analysis and Decision-Making: Designing an Expert System

Baasankhuu Ganbaatar — 2026-01-23

In the digital era, technology has permeated every sector, including international relations, with artificial intelligence (AI) already being utilized in defense and diplomacy. In the case of Mongolia, AI systems such as Egune and Erdem AI have been successfully developed. However, there has yet to be an attempt to create a specialized AI system for international relations, particularly for foreign policy analysis and decision-making. Meanwhile, the need for such purpose-built AI systems is rapidly increasing. In light of this situation, and considering the necessity to explore the potential for developing and utilizing AI tailored for foreign policy decision-making, a model of an expert system has been developed based on interdisciplinary research findings. The following is a brief overview of the results.

中国绿色发展与中蒙生态合作

Battsetseg Altangerel — 2026-01-23

In recent years, green development has become a common development goal of all countries. As the world's largest developing country, China has also actively responded to global calls and regarded green development as one of the important paths to promote sustainable economic development. It can be seen that green development is a sustainable development model that focuses on ecological restoration and environmental improvement. Only by strengthening international cooperation can we jointly promote ecological restoration and environmental improvement and achieve green development. In order to protect Mongolia's increasingly deteriorating land and to protect the earth on which mankind depends, Mongolia has implemented the "One Billion Tree Plan". How to effectively avoid and solve ecological and environmental risks and problems in the development and cooperation of the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor through green development cooperation should become a common concern of the Chinese and Mongolian governments.

蒙古国“乔巴山-呼特-毕其格图”铁路建设现状及对策分析

Battsetseg Altangerel — 2026-01-23

The planning and construction of the Northeast Land-Sea New Corridor have a preliminary foundation. Liaoning Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region have included the Xilingol-Chifeng-Chaoyang-Jinchou Land-Sea Corridor construction in their "14th Five-Year Plan" proposals. If the "Choibalsan-Hut-Bichgetu" railway section in Mongolia is connected to it, it will be of great significance for opening a new corridor to Europe, accelerating the construction of the "China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor," integrating into the "Belt and Road" initiative, and building a new development pattern with the domestic cycle as the mainstay and mutual promotion of domestic and international dual cycles.