Overseas Chinese Policy of the PRC in the Era of Deng Xiaoping (1977-1992)

Abstract

From both theoretical and practical points of view, the contemporary Overseas Chinese policy of the PRC is largely based on the experience gained during the de facto reign of Deng Xiaoping (1977–1992). In the shortest possible time after the end of the "cultural revolution (1966-1976)" Deng was succeeded to carry out restoration work on interaction with the diaspora and include it in the strategic development plan of the PRC for decades ahead. Talking about the PRC's Overseas Chinese policy, the author minds both the foreign policy – towards overseas Chinese (huaqiao-huaren: emigrants and ethnic Chinese with foreign citizenship, and the internal policy – towards re-emigrants and relatives of emigrants in the PRC (guiqiao-qiaojuan), who are directly connected with Overseas Chinese. The article analyzes the first steps of Deng Xiaoping's team to restore work with the Chinese diaspora before the official announcement of the policy of reform and opening-up: reconstruction of the administrative structure for Overseas Chinese Affairs, planning the main directions of work with diaspora, including it in the strategic development plan of the PRC. The author explains the legal details and examines the main theoretical approaches to the work with the diaspora in the first years of reform and opening-up. The paper deals with the processes of creating the basis for long-term cooperation between the PRC and the Chinese diaspora. It concludes that Deng Xiaoping completely restored external and internal work with the diaspora and created conditions for further comprehensive cooperation with it in the short, medium, and long term.