Overseas Chinese: The Early and the New, and the Difference Between Them (海外華人的過去發展與當前轉變)

Abstract

This special issue contains six essays discussing the lives of both early Chinese overseas migrants in the 19th century and those who have moved more recently during the past three decades. At heart is the thorny issue: what is the difference between early and new overseas Chinese? While earlier Chinese immigrants were mainly Han people from the Southeast China, who are the new Chinese immigrants and where do they come from? While early Chinese immigrants tended to be less skilled and educated, what are the socio-economic features of new Chinese immigrants? How do the early and new Chinese immigrants perceive each other if both live in the same locality? How do the people of the host countries perceive the new Chinese immigrants and the coming of Chinese investments? Each of these topics is partially addressed in this issue. More research on the rise of China and new Chinese immigrants will be the focus of future work in the field of overseas Chinese studies. (This article is in English).