World-class rich men:
Looking at it from the economic aspect, the secretary general of the China External Trade Development Council (CETRA), Agustin Lin, points out that all the countries of the world are striving to expand their economic territory and talking about making alliances. In the past it was political alliances such as NATO and the Warsaw Pact; now it is the European Community and the North American Free Trade Agreement. "For us, the overseas Chinese of all places are the best partners for our alliances. There is a kind of mutual benefit."
The economic strength of the Chinese is something that the world is watching. Japan's Nik-kei Shinbun carried a report that the foreign exchange reserves of the overseas Chinese of the whole world amount to US$ 300 billion. Britain's Economist reported that the accrued capital of the Chinese outside mainland China, excluding stock, is US$ 1.5--2 trillion. This will have a vast impact on world development.
Concerning the government's recent Chinese Business International Investment Cooperation Seminar, veteran China Times reporter, Wu Fu-sheng, thinks, "There is a quiet battle going on between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to win over the capital of overseas Chinese businesses."
Apart from capital, the overseas Chinese are also an important human resource for the upgrading of the ROC's economy.
Figures show that 48 percent of the companies in the Hsinchu Science-Based industrial Park are overseas Chinese companies--set up by people who went abroad in earlier years to study. Moreover, the ability to smoothly transfer industries which are no longer suitable for the domestic climate to overseas locations is also related to the overseas Chinese -- this time those who came back to Taiwan to study.
"We have certainly not paid attention to the relationship with Southeast Asia. Nobody has studied, Indonesian and Malay. Why is it then that our businessmen can invest in those places so easily now?" Chang Tsun-wu thinks that this is because in previous years people who identified with Chinese culture and our country sent their children over here to study. These people have become the bridge for present investment from Taiwan in Southeast Asia. This is an unexpected bonus.
For these reasons, Wu thinks that DPP policy towards the overseas Chinese will definitely change. "Otherwise they will not get outside Taiwan's door. We only need to go out, and we find ourselves in the sphere of influence of the overseas Chinese."
Today overseas Chinese. tomorrow citizens:
In fact, the lines of demarcation are becoming increasingly blurred. When Lin Wen-yueh, professor of Chinese at National Taiwan University, retired this year, it was reported that she wanted to go to America to live with her children. Probably nobody thought that she was going to become an "overseas Chinese" when they read this news. Nobel Prize winner Dr. Yuan T. Lee is about to come back to Taiwan with his family, to contribute more to the country's technological circles: probably nobody ever thought that this "overseas Chinese" would want to return to his roots.
Chang Wen-cheng, a business manager who returned from Argentina to take part in the International Chinese Traders Investment Cooperation Conference did not think that there had been a deterioration in the relationship between the overseas Chinese and the people in Taiwan. "Previously, if you were not satisfied with the government or the ambassador, you did not dare say so. You were afraid that you would go on the blacklist and not be able to come back to Taiwan. Now, whatever your opinions, you can speak out. In fact, the relationship is even closer."
He says that flying back from Argentina takes 28 hours. This will to come back--if it is not to support the government, then what is it? He thinks that the nature of the meeting will not let him get any tangible business accomplished, but making Chinese business acquaintances from different places and gaining an understanding of the domestic situation is certainly very good. "If there are more of these meetings later, I will come again," he says. You cannot please everybody all the time. Why is it that they are all our own people, but there are such different feelings?
"This kind of confusion is really not easy to resolve. The wisdom of the former generation was used to defend the country and defeat brute force, and to establish a foundation for Taiwan. Now it is these new problems which are testing the wisdom of this generation," says C.K. Sung with a sense of profundity.
The young know not the taste of hostility:
Among the Saturday night variety programs, L.A. Boyz, a group of overseas Chinese idols who have come to Taiwan to develop their performing careers, hold an impersonation contest for their fans. Groups of youngsters coming from Hsinchuang, Kaohsiung and even Canada, enthusiastically sing their famous songs and go through the same street dances. The mimicry and identification between them leaves people aghast.
In their hearts, whether you are overseas Chinese or not, what is the difference?
[Picture Caption]
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Every October overseas Chinese come flocking back like migrating birds to the National Day festival to find a feeling of belonging that is not easy to get abroad. (Photo by Vincent Chang)
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Sun Yat-sen once said, "The Overseas Chinese are the mother of the revolution." What place do they occupy in the hearts of citizens today? (photo from the collection of the Hawaii Chinese History Center)
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This Cadillac in the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall was donated to President Chiang Kai-shek by Overseas Chinese from the Philippines.
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After the floods of 1959, the Overseas Chinese donated money to build schools in the worst hit areas south of Miaoli. Altogether, Taiwan has over 20 such schools with the Chinese character for "Overseas Chinese" in their names.
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The Overseas Chinese who acted as donors in previous years now come back to study Taiwan's economic achievements. Here they are on a tour of the Hey Song soft drinks factory organized by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission.
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Overseas Chinese, who once thought of themselves as being Chinese their whole lives, are now gradually integrating into the societies where they live. Such is the case with Los Angeles mayoral candidate, Mike Woo.
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Bestowing gifts on their old Chinese home towns gives a great feeling of satisfaction to many Overseas Chinese.
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People have begun to doubt the degree of patriotic loyalty held by Overseas Chinese with dual nationality
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Whether or not teenage idols L.A. Boys are ROC nationals does not seem t o be much of an issue.
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Dr. Yuan T. Lee is about to return and make Taiwan his home. Does this piece of news tell us that the new Overseas Chinese also want to make more of a contribution to their places of origin, and even to return to their roots? (photo by Pu Hua-chih)