Andrei Maximov, president of the East Consultancy of Moscow, told the Pacific Rim Forum that the Chinese migrants have acquired enough real estate and securities to become an important factor in Russian Far East politics and business.
This huge presence could cause serious bilateral friction, which could lead to Beijing accusing Moscow of violations of human rights violations against Chinese residents in the Far East, he said.
"Chinese settling on Russian territory in the immediate proximity of the border with China may serve as an extra argument for confronting Russia with appropriate territorial claims," he said.
Huge areas of Russia's Far East were once part of imperial China. It ceded them to Russia in the 19th century.
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