China and the Region in Relation to Chinese Minorities

Since the beginning of 1978, following the announcement that a National Conference on Affairs was about to be convened, China has shown a renewed interest in minorities abroad. It may even appear that China now has a new policy on Overseas Chinese, the basis of which had already been outlined and discussed in the controversial editorial in the People's Daily of 4 January 1978. But is this policy really new? Does it show any better understanding of the minorities problem in Southeast Asia or of the sensitivities of Southeast Asian governments? Or does it simply, on the one hand, revive fears that the abroad are expected to serve China's interests and, on the other, confuse these into believing that China is ready to protect them? Events have moved so quickly during the past year that it would be futile to attempt to cover them here, especially when the situation is still changing and may remain fluid for some time. Some of the obvious implications for the minorities question, however, will be considered in order to help answer the questions above. It would be appropriate to begin with the January 1978 editorial which brought so much unease to Southeast Asian and other govern ments. On closer examination, we find that the policy outlined there is not new. Essentially, it re-stated the view that Overseas Chinese should be encouraged to take local citizenship and that these were no longer citizens of China. In fact, such already form the majority of all ethnic in the region. It also stated that those who were still citizens should obey local laws, live in harmony with the local people, and contribute to the development of the economy and culture of these countries. All the same, there were elements in the editorial and later statements which created unease in the region and raised doubts about China's real intentions towards these Overseas Chinese.