Chinese Migration in a Globalizing World

Leo Suryadinata

Two latest waves of Chinese migrations

The 19th century and early 20th century The end of the 20th century onward Reasons for migration Pull factors in mainland China and push

factors outside China Some differences in these factors over

the two periods

Differences between two waves of migrants

Destinations (Developing and Developed countries);

Sources of migrants; Qualities of migrants Luodi shenggeng, Luoye guigeng, or

Transnational?

Types of New Chinese Migrants

Chinese overseas students and their families/Professionals

Ordinary migrants to join family members

Investors/Businessmen Workers (including illegal workers)

In Developed Countries

According to Prof. Zhuang Guotu, there are about 4 millions new Chinese migrants

3-3.5 millions went to developed countries; of which over 2 million went to USA

Earlier migrants came from Taiwan, HK; many were students and investors

New migrants from China form the largest new Chinese migrant population

The presence of large new Chinese migrants is linked to state policy in developed countries.

USA (in thousand)

Year Chinese Pop. No. % of US pop

1961 237,292 0.13 1970 435,062 0.20 1980 812,178 0.35 1990 1,645,472 0.65 2000 2,879,636 1.02 2006 3,565,458 1.19

Australia (in Thousand)

Year Chinese pop. no. % of Aussie pop

1961 23,568 0.22 1971 26,198 0.21 1976 36,638 0.27 1986 196,347 1.30 2001 556,560 2.97 2006 669,890 2.64

New Zealand (in thousand)

Year Chinese pop. no % of NZ pop. 1980s 19,000 0.6 1990 40,000 1.1 1996 81,390 2.0 2001 105,057 3.0 2006 147,570 3.6

In Developing Countries (estimates)

Country Number Number (by Zhuang) (by Others) Singapore 200-300 300 Philippines 150-200 50-70 Thailand 200-300 100 Malaysia 100-150 50 Indonesia 100-120 50 Vietnam 50-100 50 Laos over 10 20 Cambodia over 10 20 Myanmar 100 50

Two kinds of states & Chinese migration

The nature of the states affects migration Migrant states welcome migrants Indigenous states reject migrants US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand

are migrant states In SEA, only Singapore is a migrant

state; legal Chinese migration to other states is difficult.

Singapore

Year Chinese pop. no. % of S’pore pop 1970 1,550,472 77.0 1980 1,786,884 78.3 1990 2,102,800 77.7 2000 2,505,379 76.8 2006 3,368,960 75.2

Malaysia

Year Chinese pop. no. % of Malaysian pop

1970 3,719,000 35.6 1980 4,415,000 32.1 1991 4,945,000 26.4 2000 5,692,000 24.4 2005 6,000,000 23.3

Indonesia

Year Chinese pop no. % of Indon pop.

1961 2,450,000 2.4 1971 3,293,000 2.4 1991 5,460,000 3.0 2000 4,200,000 2.0

Concluding remarks

Chinese new migration is part and parcel of global migration

More migrants have gone to developed rather than developing countries

The sources are not confined to mainland China, but Taiwan, HK, & SEA

Different impacts on developed & developing countries

More foreign-born Chinese than local born-Chinese in developed countries;

More local-born Chinese than foreign-born Chinese in developing countries

Problem of integration still remains?