The Unassuming Economist

From China Daily:

“Television broadcasts of fireworks displays with dragon and lion dances around the world celebrating Chinese New Year indicate the spread of Chinese communities to the most far-flung places on the planet. Travelers with a taste for Chinese cuisine fear not, there is a Chinese restaurant wherever you go.

The Chinese are among the most significant migrants, seeking new pastures to spread a culture that dates back more than 3,000 years. One of the migrations dates back to the Ming Dynasty when Zheng He (1371–1435) became the envoy of the Ming emperor, Yong Le. He sent people — many of them Cantonese and Hokkien — to explore and trade in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.

There are now an estimated 50 million Chinese spread to every continent in the world, many of whom have taken leading roles in their communities and local politics. Many, with their antecedents being of the Chinese race, have become heads of state, business leaders, notable entertainers, and academics. Winners of international competitions in mathematics, science, and technology, as well as sporting contests, are now seen as nationals of Chinese descent. Overseas Chinese are known as “Huaren” or “Huaqiao” (ethnic Chinese residing outside China).

The Chinese diaspora is thriving, sharing their cultural traditions with the residents of their adoptive homes. The largest overseas Chinese population is in Asia (34.6 million), followed by the continent of America (about 9.8 million). As a testament to their global reach, there has been steady growth in total numbers in every continent since 2010. The overseas Chinese population of Europe (1.32 to 2.38 million) and Oceania (0.95 to 1.77 million) has nearly doubled. However, the most significant growth occurred in Africa, with an increase from 0.24 to 1.18 million—a surge of almost 500 percent in just 12 years, reflecting the dynamic nature of the Chinese diaspora in a developing economy.”

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