How did the Qing policy of huairou affect maintenance of the Great Wall?

The Qing dynasty’s policy of huairou, or "mollification," significantly altered the maintenance of the Great Wall of China. Under this strategy, the Qing rulers sought to pacify the peoples of Mongolia, Tibet, and other regions by avoiding interference in their local social, cultural, and religious lives.1

Because this diplomatic approach proved successful in maintaining stability, the perceived military necessity of the wall diminished. Consequently, the structure was repaired with much less frequency than it had been during the Ming dynasty, leading to its gradual decline and state of ruin.1