1. 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

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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%

5. Figures

6. 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

7. Figures 2
2019/6/30

8. Chinese Migration into EU
In absolute terms relatively small In terms of growth rate, increase of 3.5 times from (from 600,000 to 2,1 million) High rate (global growth rate 0.68%) Europe is ranked second in growth rate after Africa

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. (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

13. 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

14. Thank you!