evidence: Hainan has been strategically important for China well before starting its transformation into an FTP. The region is located in a geographically strategic area and in the past has played an important role in advancing its country’s claims in the South China Sea over disputed islands. The main actors in enhancing Chinese policy have been the local government, which made Hainan and its local governments the main administrators of all Chinese claims in the SCS (Yamaguchi, 2016). While in the past its role in China’s SCS claims has been the core of Hainan’s relevance, in the last decade, the province’s role in China’s agenda has experienced a shift, which can be made clear also by the result of the Chinese 20th National Congress. Hainan’s unique geographical position is no longer the only way for China to pursue its SCS claims but has become a vital location for the advancement of its internal and external development goals, especially with regard to BRI, the GDI, and the dual circulation strategy.