Chinese Migration into the EU: New Trends, Opportunities & Threats EU-Asia Migration Challenges Chinese Migration into the EU: New Trends, Opportunities & Threats Ching Lin Pang KU Leuven & University of Antwerp
Introduction Wherever the ocean waves touch, there are overseas Chinese Transnational Chinese communities belong to one of the oldest, largest and diverse diasporas, both culturally and geopolitically defined
Chinese Migration in New Century Diversification of Chinese populations in Europe in terms of origin, economic activity and social, economic and educational background Arrival of New Migrants (xin yimin) 新移民 or people, who have left China after 1978 and increasingly after 2000 as students or foreign contract workers, investors and undocumented migrants.
Figures Region Number all Chinese migrants/share of total Chinese migrants Number new migrants/share in the total local Chinese population Total 45,430 million/100% 10, 300 million/11.12 % Asia 35,480 million/78% 4 million/11.12% America 6,300 million/13,87% 3,5 million/56% Europe 2,150 million/4,7% 1,7 million/79% Oceania 950,0000/2% 600,000/63% Africa 550,000/1,2% 500,000/90%
Figures
Figures & Distribution of New Migrants Country Number Occupation Specifics America 1,9 million Students, experts, unskilled workers Most originate from Hong Kong and Taiwan, small group of undocumented Canada 850,000 idem Europe 1,7 million Businessmen, laborers Undocumented and highly mobile Oceania 600,000 Students, experts, laborers, traders Most come from Hong Kong and Taiwan Japan Students, experts, laborers Mostly students, expert residents Africa 450,000 Traders, technical experts, service workers Mostly in South Africa Latin-America 750,000 Traders Mostly in Argentina and neighboring countries Russia 200,000 High mobility, fluctuating numbers South-East Asia 2,53 million Traders, technical experts, entrepreneurs, laborers, students Large group of undocumented migrants TOTAL 10,3 million
Figures 2 2019/6/30
Chinese Migration into EU In absolute terms relatively small In terms of growth rate, increase of 3.5 times from 1980- 2007(from 600,000 to 2,1 million) High rate (global growth rate 0.68%) Europe is ranked second in growth rate after Africa
Settlement Uneven distribution of settlement: Concentration in top 10 countries: UK, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Ireland, Austria, Belgium and Portugal New migration flows into peripheral Southern EU MS: Italy, Spain and Portugal Since the economic crisis in 2008 some Chinese leave Southern European countries. High level of mobility
Transformation immigrant economy From catering to manufacturing (textile) in Italy, France, Spain Chinese expats as a result of increasing FDI (Geely, Huawei, Alibaba, etc.) Increasing numbers of Chinese students and white-collar workers Second and third generation, breaking out of the ethnic economy and entering the regular labor market
Human Smuggling/Trafficking Illegal human smuggling/trafficking run by ‘snakeheads’ was rampant in the 1990s until 2000s as a result of restructuring in China (Northeast-China) Late 2000s evidence suggests that human smuggling has declined (Wu et al. 2010) New ways of legal entry into Europe, i.e. family reunification Improvement of local economy and job opportunities
(Self-)Perception -Aim of Chinese migrant: preserve FACE of family, clan, lineage, village and the Chinese state -Chinese in diaspora make sacrifices (eating bitterness chi ku 吃苦) in order to be successful, while making use of web of relations (guanxiwang 关系网) -Transformation from peasant to entrepreneurs (embourgeoisement) in diaspora (Weber 1976) -Changing images: from peasants in the past to highly qualified professionals and experts
Opportunities and Threats Opportunities -Chinese migrants/companies contribute to local economies -Embracing a hyphenated Chinese-European identity among second and third generation Threats -China-bashing -Enduring stereotypes (i.e. anti-Chinese riots) -Chinese absent in migration and integration debate, except in the discussion on illegal smuggling
Thank you!