Asia Sentinel

An essay by a think-tank columnist 楊恒均 at Techn.com, titled “Overseas Chinese Love China; China Should Love Them Too”.

My translation of the essay:-

“There was once a report about Fidel Castro posing a question to Deng Xiaoping when he was on a visit to Beijing. His question was: ‘Our two countries have similar systems and both our governments enjoy support from our own people. Why is it that once Cubans arrive in the United States they would immediately set out to oppose me, whereas when Chinese go to live in the States they would start to be patriotic?’ As could be expected, Castro naturally did not get a satisfactory answer. So, up to now the majority of Cubans who live in the States still consider overthrowing the Castro government as their responsibility, while overseas Chinese who scatter all over the world are one of the most passionate patriotic groups.

But the sad fact is, whether it was the period from the Qing dynasty to the Nationalist regime, or right up to the Cultural Revolution, overseas Chinese have scarcely received any care or attention from the Chinese government, not to mention the fact that they often have been adversely affected by certain of its actions: not only their mainland relatives get mistreated, they themselves are often targets of discrimination and oppression or are even victims of gang rape and massacre. Yet, despite all these unjust mishaps, overseas Chinese have stood out from amongst all immigrant groups in the world as one with the greatest love for their motherland. This is a commonly acknowledged fact.

It is exactly this patriotism that has brought misfortune or even catastrophe to overseas Chinese during different historical periods, especially in the era of the extreme left. During this latter époque, when we saw the world as our enemy, closing the door to inflict great sufferings on ourselves while vowing to liberate the world, overseas Chinese were deeply hurt. Let us not go into details about the painful experiences of Chinese immigrants in some South East Asian countries whose governments exercised suppressive tactics out of fear of a red China, but even in Western countries that believe in human rights and racial equality like the United States, it is not uncommon for them to use, either overtly or furtively, oppressive or discriminatory measures against Chinese immigrants due to ideological or security considerations.

After 30 years of reform and opening up to the world, China’s economy has experienced an unprecedented pace of growth and China is gradually rising in the World’s east. Who would be more proud and more enthused about this than overseas Chinese who are dispersed around the world? What has made them even more proud and vindicated is that the Olympics will be held in Bejing this year.

China does not recognize dual nationality. Legally speaking, overseas Chinese who have claimed foreign nationality will be denied Chinese nationality. One consequence of this is that when overseas Chinese are discriminated against or subjugated, the Chinese government is unable to do anything. Besides, China has always set great store by non-interference in other countries’ internal politics. History has born witness to this situation. Even when overseas Chinese were subjected to serious insults or rape, China’s response has still been the ‘non-interference in others’ internal politics’ rhetoric. (In recent years though there has been some improvement in this respect.)

However, we have to recognize a fact, and that is in the wake of the love overseas Chinese have for their motherland, their success or failure in different parts of the world has a direct relation to whether they can improve their service to mainland China. Based on this viewpoint, China treating overseas Chinese well is equal to China treating herself well.

Compared to the huge number of Chinese overseas students (it is estimated that since the opening up, a total of 1.3 million students have gone overseas, of whom about 200,000 have returned to China), the older generation of overseas Chinese immigrants have an even deeper love for China and they also know the better way of loving their homeland. Most of the students nowadays bring with them tens of thousands to a million yuans which their parents give them and they spend their money on goods or buying an education, and ultimately the majority of them will stay in the foreign land. Most of the Chinese immigrants in the past only had a backpack and a few dollars in their pocket when they arrived in a foreign country, and from there they struggled to earn their living with their own bare hands. Unlike the students who take money out from the mainland, the older immigrants often bring money back to their motherland to support various projects.

I’ve been contemplating several issues. Today let’s first reflect on the dual nationality issue. Presently the world’s stronger nations all recognize dual nationality. In 1949 when the current government was established, they did accept dual nationality. But since the ostracizing of Chinese immigrants in South East Asia, this policy was cancelled. Dual nationality, if permitted, can not only bring solidarity to all overseas Chinese, it can also eliminate their worries when they claim a foreign nationality, enabling them to quickly integrate into the social and work circles of their host country.

Of course there are other ways to show the Chinese government’s care for overseas Chinese. One would be, before dual nationality becomes reality, to make it easier for them to get entry visas.

I’ve just heard from a friend who acquired American citizenship that China has recently tightened visa controls because of the Olympics. It beats me as to why the authorities would choose to tighten controls just ahead of a joyful sports event.

The tightening appears to be on the time limit. It restricts multiple entries; tourists would need to show return air tickets, hotel reservation; visitors would need to have their mainland relatives’ sponsorship etc.; it seems all of a sudden things have returned to the way things used to work during the Cultural Revolution. These restrictions would probably not have a big impact on foreigners, as they are least likely to stay for long in China. It is the overseas Chinese with foreign nationality who would be inconvenienced.

It is not that overseas Chinese expect their motherland to care for them or love them. But you can’t at a critical moment put out measures to target your own offspring who roam the world. There are tens of millions of overseas Chinese. Of these, how many would actually be coming back to cause traffic chaos or overcrowding in hotels? Why is it necessary to restrict issuing visas to them? What statistical grounds are there for tightening visa control?

There are some even more serious problems and one of these is the over-involvement in overseas Chinese affairs by Chinese Embassies, using the mainland political mindset to exert control over local Chinese immigrants. It is all very ludicrous. If you think those countries have not noticed these things, you cannot be more wrong. All your actions are under close surveillance by their intelligence agencies. Such a way of bringing ‘Chinese characteristics’ into international relationship cannot be without a price. In the end, Chinese people will be the losers, especially overseas Chinese.”

Comments (10)

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written by Overseas help , July 01, 2008

"Overseas Chinese banks excelled in commerce, finance, and many other industries. They created many banks originally to remit money back to China but now they cater to the people of their adopted countries."

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，
written by vincentC , July 01, 2008

作为海外华人华裔实在悲哀，抗日战争时�
��些满腔热血回国报效祖国的青年，解放�
�那些回国参与建设社会主义新中国的热心
归侨，他们的下场大多很凄惨。
还有，当你捐钱为家乡修桥造路建学校时�
��你是个多么热爱家乡热爱祖国的华人。�
�祖国在反独促统，支持奥运，反对藏独时
，你冒着侨居国对你的猜疑对你的不满，�
��更是个拥抱祖国热爱祖国的好儿女。 但当你有需要祖国时，那怕是一纸普普通�
��的签证，换来的却是冷言冷语“对不起�
�我无能为力，你不是中国籍”。真叫人心
寒！！比照台湾人香港人，给张回乡证有�
��难吗？

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\"Overseas Chinese\"- a Misnomer of Term
written by xiaoblueleaf , June 30, 2008

This is ultimate dilemma that an "overseas Chinese" faces
- that notwithstanding his/her cultural attachement to his ethnic origin, he is the citizen of his/her adopted country where his/her loyalty and patriotsm should belong. One cannot complain of racial bias or discrimination when being the citizen of an adopted country while retaining his/her loyalty to he country that he/she had left. This is specially true with respect to the second- or third-generation "overseas Chinese".

This is not to say that he/she cannot be proud of his/her ethnicity or cultural heritage. A line needs to be drawn.

One cannot have a piece of cake and eat it both ways!

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Why?
written by mahathir_fan , June 30, 2008

Could it be just as simple as this is a case of a good guy vs. a bad guy, and it is in our conscience to support the good guy which in this case is China?

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written by Leo , June 29, 2008

Around the time of Tibetan riot, Mr Yang wrote an article to mock overseas Chinese loving China too much and hinted that they were paid agents of Chinese embassey. In this piece (including a part Ms Poon has not posted), he is actually accusing Chinese embassy of controling and manipulating overseas Chinese.

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Mr.
written by San su kong , June 28, 2008

P/s: This is the email I sent to my friends in China.

Hi Everybody,
Below is an article written by one, Ms Alice Poon -'a think-tank columnist 楊恒均 at Techn.com, titled "Overseas Chinese Love China; China Should Love Them Too".
I read the English translated version. As an Overseas Chinese I do deeply feel the similar hurt and disappointment highlighted in the article by Ms Poon. As you all know I have just left China after an eight months stay in the country. As being pointed out in the article I, too was made to understand that it would be very difficult to have my visa extended for reason/s as mentioned in the article. I may not be a Chinese citizen, but I am very proud that I am of Chinese stock. Not everyone is a potential trouble-maker. Today the whole world has its focus on the Beijing Olympic Games and I do feel proud for my father who had to leave his motherland at the tender age of thirteen for economic reasons and never had the opportunity to return for a visit. Though he is not around anymore to share the joy of this coming auspicious occasion, I, being his son would hope to feel and share this joy on his behave. Unfortunately, this opportunity is not made available to me. Also, if I could have my visa extended for another four months I would have made my way to the earthquake hit area of Sichuan to volunteer myself as an English tutor. Yes indeed, Overseas Chinese do love China, but is their love being reciprocated by their motherland? Your guess is as good as mine. I left China with a very heavy heart indeed but nevertheless with the hope that the future China policies will treat her own kind from overseas with a little more affection and consideration. Last but not least I like to take this opportunity to extend my heart-felt wishes to China that the Beijing Olympics Games will be of a great success for the world to remember for a long time to come.

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A Short Anatomy of Chinese Nationalism Today
written by URL , June 28, 2008

U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission

http://www.uscc.gov/hearings/2008hearings/written_testimonies/08_06_18_wrts/08_06_18_link_statement.php

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A Short Anatomy of Chinese Nationalism Today
written by U.S.-China E , June 28, 2008

Excerpt: It is not hard to see why the “rise of China” in recent decades has meant much to the personal confidence of Chinese people everywhere, and especially among Chinese living abroad. In environments where Chinese national identity competes side-by-side with others, where Chinese people are minorities, and where they might suffer real or perceived discrimination, the image of a strong China back home can be even more important than it is to people who live inside China.

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Pragmatism
written by Bushwhacker , June 28, 2008

Oversea Chinese are just as pragmatic like any other human races. If China is strong, Chinese everywhere will get the respect.

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written by 007 , June 27, 2008

"Overseas Chinese" can be quite a misleading term, when it refers to foreign citizens of Chinese descent.

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