Preface

Summary

I have been studying Beijing's policy towards the Chinese overseas in Southeast Asia for many years. In 1978 I published an occasional paper on the topic, which was subsequently expanded into a book entitled China and the ASEAN States: The Ethnic Chinese Dimension (1985). In the past thirty years since that study, many new developments have taken place. When I first conducted my study, China was still weak. But, since the end of the twentieth and the beginning of the twentyfirst centuries we have witnessed a rising China, the growing overseas presence of China's state–owned enterprises (SOEs), and a new wave of Chinese migration. China has also fine–tuned its foreign policy. Within this changed context, it would be interesting to re–examine Beijing's policy towards the Chinese overseas.

Beijing's policy today shows elements of both continuity and change. But, is change more significant than continuity? Is the new policy a form of Chinese transnationalism used by Beijing to serve its own core national interest? Is the policy more effective than before as a rising China is more appealing to the Chinese overseas? What will be the likely impact on Southeast Asia and beyond?

When I was director of the Chinese Heritage Centre at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (CHC–NTU) from January 2006 to October 2013, I wrote a few brief articles commenting on Beijing's policy towards the Chinese overseas. However, there were then few examples to support a discussion of continuity and change. I was also busy with other responsibilities and could not do a more detailed study of Beijing's policy.

I am glad that ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute has given me the opportunity finally to embark on this long intended study. Nevertheless, this is a brief study, limited to Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, Africa, and the Middle East. The emphasis is still on the Southeast Asian region, which is my major area of interest. A comprehensive study that covers other regions should be conducted to obtain a more thorough understanding of Beijing's relationship with the Chinese overseas.