In November 1929 he was deployed to the border of China due to the Sino-Soviet conflict. The commander of his company was killed during the first battle, so Beloborodov took command. He successfully led the company in several battles and for doing so was awarded his first Order of the Red Banner. After the end of the conflict he remained in command of the company for one year. In 1933 he entered the Frunze Military Academy, which he graduated from in 1936, following which he was appointed assistant chief of the operational department of the staff of the 66th Rifle Division in the Far East. He became Operations Chief of Staff of the 31st Rifle Corps in March 1939. In June of that same year he was made Chief of Staff of the 43rd Rifle Corps. For the first six months of 1941 he was the head of department of military training of the Far Eastern Front.