The previous chapters dealt with Beijing's responses to both external events involving the Chinese overseas and domestic events or domestic needs in which the Chinese overseas were involved. These events occurred around the turn of the century, coinciding with the rise of China. This chapter summarizes various case studies showcasing China's new policy towards the Chinese overseas and their relationship with China's national interests. It becomes clear that, increasingly, Beijing has perceived the Chinese overseas as a form of social and economic capital for the development of China and hence fine–tuned its policy towards them. It would appear that Beijing is adopting Chinese transnationalism once again. It even had plans to introduce a Huayi Card that would allow persons of Chinese origin residency, but not voting, rights in China but the project was shelved owing to unfavourable responses from some Chinese overseas and non–Chinese.

BEIJING'S RESPONSES TO EXTERNAL EVENTS FROM NON–INTERVENTION TO DIRECT INTERVENTION

As noted in Chapter 4, in 1998, Beijing adopted a “hands–off policy” towards the Chinese overseas during the anti–Chinese violence in Indonesia. However, Beijing's responses to external events differ from country to country as the objective conditions in each have not been the same. As noted earlier in this study, there are various types of responses, which produce different models.

The so–called Indonesian model, the non–intervention (non–protection) model, was unique and is unlikely to be repeated. At that time, China was diplomatically isolated and required the support of a major country in Southeast Asia. As Indonesians of Chinese descent were being beaten up and raped and their homes looted, China watched helplessly as these people were no longer Chinese citizens. Many Chinese Indonesians fled to safer places and China did not stage any protest. It was only a few months later that Beijing appealed to the newly–installed Indonesian government to protect its own citizens, including those of Chinese descent.

However, it seems that there was some debate in China'sforeign policy circles as to whether non–intervention was the right decision, but the policy prevailed as it served the national interests of the PRC. However, if large–scale anti–Chinese riots were to occur in Indonesia today, it is likely that Beijing would intervene.