China is a country of extreme contrasts, from the north/south divide to its multiethnic society. Chinese people place a high value on national unity and cooperation.
In many parts of the world, communities of Chinese people have established ethnic enclaves known as Chinatowns. These enclaves maintain cultural autonomy and vary widely in their level of assimilation.
Chinatowns
Chinatowns have long been important to the Chinese community worldwide. They serve as hubs for family and regional associations, community services, and cultural organizations. They also provide housing, employment, and assistance with immigration paperwork.
These enclaves were initially created as segregated communities to protect Chinese immigrants from discrimination and racial violence. Often, local media depicted them as exotic, romanticized enclaves of vibrant Asian life or dangerous pits of vice. Some of the first Chinatowns were founded on the West Coast in the 19th century, with many more following as a result of railroad labor needs.
Despite their historical significance, these communities are increasingly endangered. They face displacement due to gentrification and the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes. As such, second-generation Chinese Americans are increasingly active in running projects that preserve these cultural centers. Monterey Park, California, for example, was recently named the country’s first suburban Chinatown. This trend reflects the growing population of Chinese residents outside of traditional urban Chinatowns.
Chinese diaspora in Asia
The Chinese diaspora is one of the largest in the world, and its members have varied experiences. However, placing these stories of migration side by side illuminates some continuities and patterns. These include similar push and pull factors, experiences with racism, and successes and struggles.
Many of the earliest overseas Chinese forged identities that were distinct from a national Chinese identity, especially in settler colonial settings such as Malaya and the East Indies and the United States and Australia. These “Peranakan” Chinese blended loyalties to their local host cultures with a sense of overarching Chineseness, resulting in idiosyncratic practices and cultural identifiers.
Later waves of Chinese migration to Oceania, particularly Hawaii and Australia, were largely driven by the coolie trade. In these places, Chinese migrants cultivated networks of small firms articulated on the local scale to form economic communities. These communities were able to forge important economic relations with continental China that benefited both sides.
Chinese immigrants in the United States
As of 2023, Chinese Americans comprise the third largest group of Asian immigrants in the United States. They also account for 24% of the country’s total Asian population.
Early Chinese migrants were mostly men who went to America for work or to visit relatives. Some of these individuals were forced to work in the California opium trade, where over 60% of adult Chinese women worked as sex slaves.
Due to these issues, many anti-Chinese politicians argued that admitting Chinese to the United States lowered moral standards in society. They advocated for the passage of laws that restricted immigration from East Asia.
In addition, some Chinese immigrants were attracted to the United States because of its political freedom. As a result, Chinese-American communities have tended to be politically active and close-knit. After decades of slow growth under tight constraints, a new law in the mid- 1960s transformed Chinese immigration and created a surge of growth. The new wave of Chinese came from urban cities in Hong Kong and Taiwan and had a different outlook on life, with greater expectations for social mobility.
Chinese people in Indonesia
Despite the fact that racial bias is widespread in Indonesia, the country’s Chinese community has been able to overcome this stigma through civic power and intercultural meeting opportunities. They have also pushed for greater equality and welfare, and they are helping native Indonesians thrive in the economy.
Nevertheless, discrimination still exists, as exemplified by the controversy surrounding Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, commonly known as Ahok. In November 2016, Ahok was charged with blasphemy by hardline Islamist groups, which caused widespread protests in the capital city.
A growing number of xinyimin are coming to Indonesia to work for Chinese firms, bringing with them new challenges. The Indonesian government needs to ensure that these workers understand and respect local culture, as well as take steps to prevent anti-Chinese sentiment from arising. Moreover, it should promote awareness of the value of multiculturalism in order to reduce prejudice. This would help to foster a better understanding between the two countries, and ultimately lead to more fruitful relations.