African and Asian Studies
Volume 9, Issue 3, 2010, Pages 286-306

Faces of China: New Chinese migrants in South Africa, 1980s to present (Article)

Huynh T.T. , Park Y.J. , Chen A.Y.
  • a Centre for Sociological Research, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
  • b Centre for Sociological Research, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
  • c Centre for Sociological Research, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa

Abstract

Contrary to media arguments that Chinese migration to Africa is part of a Chinese state project, the vast majority of new Chinese migrants in South Africa arrived (or made decisions to stay) independently, motivated by their desires to improve their lives. Newer Chinese migrants tend to follow paths cut by those who came earlier; some of these earlier migrants from the PRC came with Taiwanese businesses or state-owned enterprises. Today's Chinese migrants are quite diverse: they come from various parts of China, with different levels of education and experience, and from different class backgrounds. Migration processes and migration successes are linked to sending country, receiving country and global conditions; however, Chinese migrants themselves play an integral role in shaping perceptions, constructing new identities and changing spaces, giving substance to the idea of a "global south". © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2010.

Author Keywords

Chinese migration South Africa China in africa South-South identities

Index Keywords

international migration perception migration determinant immigration policy Asian immigrant identity construction South Africa immigration state owned enterprise
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78049478526&doi=10.1163%2f156921010X515978&partnerID=40&md5=b5fcce378afd57e34ec6808e42e524f6
DOI: 10.1163/156921010X515978
ISSN: 15692094
Cited by: 29
Original Language: English