Chinese Diaspora refers to the migration of Chinese people to other countries beyond China.
Chinese people began immigrating to Canada in the 1850s and have in recent years arrived from a number of countries as well as from the two Chinas (mainland China and Taiwan).
Before the 1960s, the Chinese were under the same restrictions for admission as other people from Asia. A few were admitted after 1947, but between 1968 and 1984, 170,000 ethnic Chinese immigrants came to Canada, principally from mainland China, Taiwan, Indochina, and particularly Hong Kong. Between 1984 and the early 1990s, another 176,000 immigrants from that part of the world entered the country.
Many of the immigrants from Hong Kong brought large amounts of capital with them after 1985, under a government program that admitted as immigrants without other tests those who could invest at least $250,000 in Canadian business ventures. Most of these people invested in Canada in order to shelter money and guarantee themselves asylum after the British agreement in 1984 to allow Hong Kong to become reunited with China in 1997. These rich businesspeople were deeply resented by many Canadians.
Many of the other Chinese newcomers were highly educated and in professional occupations, although they typically earned less than Canadians in comparable jobs. Most first-generation Chinese immigrants speak Chinese at home, but there has been a substantial language loss and a major shift to English in the second generation. The size of the Chinese community in several Canadian cities, especially Vancouver and Toronto, has made possible a substantial cultural life and many institutions, such as newspapers, radio stations, and banks, to help maintain it.
Toronto has at least six major Chinatowns, three are located within the city boundaries, and while the other three are located in adjacent suburbs.
The major focus of this paper’s study will be The Old Chinatown, which is located within the intersection of Dundas Street West and Spadina Avenue. It has grown significantly and reflects the diverse set of Asian cultures through its shops and restaurants. Toronto’s oldest Chinatown is struggling to revitalize and redefine itself as it is faced with an ageing population, which could be seen through its decline in tourism, and most clearly through the lure of the suburban Chinatowns that continue to draw money and professional immigrants away from downtown.
Younger generations of higher income immigrants from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong have moved out, so those left in the district are typically older and senior generations.
However, the arrival of The University of Toronto and Ryerson University that are adjacent to Chinatown has helped accelerate the gentrification of the district, which has brought in younger professionals into the area. Other Chinatowns include East Chinatown and Scarborough. Scarborough saw an influx of Hong Kong Chinese and Taiwanese during the 1980s.
Chinese Diasporas can be vital in both the local scale and the international scale. These districts can be both beneficial and problematic locally and internationally.
An obvious benefit in the international scale would be improving international relations. There can be direct and indirect effects towards international relations.
A direct effect would be granting political leaders with diasporic links. Diasporas have significant presence in political scene in some countries even though in terms of number; it might be small percentage of the total populations. Therefore, in areas where the minority status of Diaspora usually means that they are left out of the top political post. Thus, an increasing number of Chinese Diaspora at higher political level with increasing frequencies will occur.
Another direct effect would be the relations between the host nation and the home nation can depend on the treatment of Diaspora in host nation. The concerns and interest for diasporic communities by the home nation can seriously affect the international relations between the host nation and the home nation.
Although the diasporic communities have direct implication to international policies, however, the most powerful link is economics. This indirect effect is powerful enough to the extent in which it is able to blur domestic and international boundaries, as well as, economic and political divides. Another indirect effect would be social networks and transnational interdependence.
Chinese Diasporic communities have provided the “outside” world with a stronger Chinese cultural understanding and respect. This includes a stronger understanding of our religion and our lifestyles. This understanding, not only aids international relations, it also facilitates tourism in certain districts. Tourism can help the host nation economically by creating more revenue. Moreover, a better understanding and respect will definitely diminish the severity of discrimination towards Chinese Diasporic communities. Thus, there will be less face-to-face paucity and misunderstanding, which could help stabilize the society.
By attracting more young professionals through Chinese Diasporic communities, the host nation will be able to experience a “brain-gain” situation. This could certainly help develop the host nation’s economy and bring about new businesses and technologies. This puts the host nation in a higher status and puts it in a position with a higher advantage than other nations. To balance this, problems may arise that Diasporic communities that occupy an older generation may benefit less. This may give rise to certain districts being less developed and looked after. One example would be the Older Chinatown this paper focuses on. |
