This chapter deals with China's response to two major domestic events in 2008, in which the Chinese overseas were mobilized, namely, the Sichuan earthquake and the Beijing Olympic Games. Both these events show Beijing's changing policy towards the Chinese overseas. In order to achieve certain objectives, Beijing has begun to treat the Chinese overseas as a single entity, regardless of their citizenship. By appealing to their primordial Chinese sentiments Beijing hopes to use the Chinese overseas as a form of social capital.

THE SICHUAN EARTHQUAKE: THE USE OF SOCIAL CAPITAL?

An earthquake struck Sichuan province on 12 May 2008, resulting in 62,000 dead, 23,000 missing, and 350,000 injured. The earthquake left about 5 million homeless, although the actual number could have been as high as 11 million. The disaster immediately attracted the attention of the world. Many countries expressed their sympathies and offered aid. After a two–day hesitation, Beijing abandoned its self–reliance policy and accepted the help of foreign countries, allowing their personnel to enter the disaster area.

While accepting the aid of foreign countries, China did not go out of its way to solicit their help. However, its attitude towards the Chinese overseas was vastly different. Many Chinese overseas, regardless of their citizenship, voluntarily staged campaigns to collect funds for the earthquake victims, showing their sympathy for their ethnic kin. But Beijing, for its part, had a conscious policy to get the Chinese overseas involved.

With the PRC's healthy foreign reserves position, China, in fact, did not need the financial contribution of the Chinese overseas. Nevertheless, China was not only happy that the Chinese overseas were paying attention to the earthquake victims, but also intentionally appealed to them to continue to give donations for the victims. Beijing acknowledged the role of the Chinese overseas in rebuilding the disaster area in subsequent years. The Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (OCAO) in the State Council declared in June 2008 that it would use the donations of the Chinese overseas (huaqiao huaren) to build 100 Qiao Ai Schools and 100 Qiao Ai health clinics in the following three to five years. The term qiao ai means “love of Chinese compatriots overseas”.

Donations by the Chinese overseas can be divided into a few categories. The top category comprised donations made by Chinese entrepreneurs.