The emergence of centrally initiated regional plan in China: A case study of Yangtze River Delta Regional Plan

China has recently seen the proliferation of regional plans. This paper tries to understand the development of regional plans from the perspective of state restructuring and changing regional governance. In contrast to conventional wisdom, which predominantly describes China's decentralization, another aspect of ‘recentralization’ is highlighted here. The paper focuses on a case study of Yangtze River Delta Regional Plan. It is argued that the latest regional plans are used by the central government to coordinate diverse local interests to achieve a more balanced development. However, complex politics between different levels and divisions of government make this plan an impossible project to deliver central regulation on contemporary city-regions.

► More attention to the counter-trend of recentralization is needed in China.
► The proliferation of regional plans is associated with state restructuring and changing regional governance.
► The centrally initiated regional plan is deployed to coordinate diverse interests and build consensus.
► Complex politics between different levels and divisions of government undermine the project to achieve its object.