Along with the changing political tides in Taiwan, a feeling of dislike toward overseas Chinese is apparently taking shape. The new administration's policies concerning overseas Chinese have taken the matter further by formalizing discrimination against some overseas Chinese.
The Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission Minister-select, Chang Fu-mei
If we analyze this new policy from traditional nationalism and the belief that "blood is thicker than water," we will inevitably be scorned for being unpractical and outdated. However, even from a purely interest-based standpoint, the new administration's policies, besides highlighting the political status of the New Taiwanese and enhancing nativization, fail to demonstrate any rationality and will have a seriously negative impact.
First, the policy will deepen the splits in the overseas Chinese community, divide a people who are mutually dependent on each other for survival, create feelings of superiority and inferiority among them, as well as give political, economical, and educational privileges to a special few. The policies give the New Taiwanese abundant resources to engage in business and industrial developments. On the other hand, the other two groups will feel like orphans. The resulting frictions and resentment are something no one would be happy to see.
The goal of overseas Chinese affairs should be to help unite the overseas Chinese so that they become mutually dependent and enjoy a good life on foreign soil.
For example the massive Korean emigration to the US did not begin until after the Korean War in the 1950's. During the next 50 years, the Korean Americans' accomplishment in the US exceeds that of Chinese Americans, a group with more than 100 years of history in the US. The Koreans have secured their positions in the business and industrial fields. In fact, in some of these fields, they enjoy a monopoly.
The most important reason for the accomplishments of the Korean Americans is the unity within the community. They offer help and engage in joint ventures with fellow countrymen, even those whom are relative strangers. The South Korean government takes very good care of them, without any discrimination. Our new administration's policies obvious run contrary to the goal of community unity.
Do not think that those traditional and old overseas Chinese serve no interests of Taiwan. During the cold-war era, the overseas Chinese's anti-communist stance influenced their host countries' policies toward China, and helped, to a certain degree, the international status of Taiwan. Even now US presidential candidates always send delegates to Chinatowns to listen to the opinions of the overseas Chinese, as a reference for their China policies.
During this past decade, Taipei has become more detached and alienated from the overseas Chinese communities, as a result of changing policies. Therefore, fewer and fewer Chinese will speak on the behalf of Taiwan.
The new administration should endeavor to win over the support and allegiance of the overseas Chinese and use this tie to influence foreign opinion and legislators. Use this bottom-to-top approach to influence the policies of the host countries and expand our international space. This approach is far more effective than lobbying congressmen and the government officials.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also knows the importance of interaction with the private sectors. Therefore, it has encouraged our people to actively participate in international organizations. Why not make good use of the overseas Chinese as a momentum to increase our international activities?
Why are we discarding this useful force instead? For example, the recent conference held in Brazil for Chinese businessmen from around the world is an accomplishment for Taiwan in terms of foreign relations. If we support only the New Taiwanese and exclude all others, would we be able to host such a conference?
The new administration's policies should not be too narrow-minded and short-sighted. Instead, it should learn to be more magnanimous and think more in terms of long-term interests. From the standpoint of both long-term political and short-term economic interests, the government should try to win over the support of the overseas Chinese communities.
Byron N. Tzou is a research fellow at the Institute of International Relations at National Chengchi University.
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