Our group wears the cloak of invisibility where everyone looks the same. And when you cannot hear us speak, we will be equally marginalized in your eyes.
At first reading the Lowy report ‘The politics of being Chinese‘ seems useful for the Chinese Australian diaspora. It reveals that we are positive immigrants and contributors. As a large community group we are safe citizens and conservative by nature.
A main concern is that the analysis will lead to more stereotyping. It will justify the extensive suspicion that this community has already attracted from the mainstream press and right-wing politicians.
The questions were constructed to get black and white answers, leading to an analysis that brushes over the many nuances of the complex relationship of geopolitics, bilateral relationships in trade, academia, social, cultural and interplay of people in rich relationships developing between Western and Asian groups. There is no multiple choices or a 1 to 5 scale in this survey.
The questions polarize stark choices of authoritarian v democracy, Australian v non Australian, identity v timelines. These are shallow questions. The survey design is shallow. It leads to shallow data, and equally shallow analysis. Politicians from the right will have a field day with the report. There are many one liners to glean. A marketer’s delight can run these in parliament for years.
I refer to the discrimination and racism section. It focuses on the language of the open street. We don’t wish to respond in street terms. Discrimination and marginalization are loaded into the Australian Constitution, in legislation and policies such as the Poll Tax, Factories Act, Immigration Restriction Act, Dictation tests, and even the new Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme. Institutional bias in Australia is the real fuel for these laws where licenses of racism are derived.
What do the words “favorable to the Chinese system of government“ mean? Ending of poverty in record time, genocide of minorities, takeover of our valuable economy by belt road, or is it just an answer to fill behind a blank wall?
The report dissects and exposes the underbelly of 1.2 million community of Chinese Australians. We have now a substantial post-2010 group that:
- in various hidden ways still harbors love for CCP, is not loyal to Australian values and freedom, and does not yet appreciate democratic government. It does not even weigh the threat of foreign influence like the rest of Australia.
- it is a group that largely is linked to WeChat as a preferred media source and enclaved in its own united mother tongue. WeChat is now the Chinese elephant that manifests the web. It looks like the next fifth column for future and silent invasion.
The takeaway is the justification of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Legislation, the surveillance policies, AFP raids, registration of foreign agents … In time a number of agencies will serve as watchdogs over suspect organizations and individuals and their relationship with each other and overseas.
The second takeaway is that we have been defined as a new target group. We cling to our motherland, reject democracy, and have less than proper true blue values. This is our major problem since our group is seem not able to assimilate. But we point out that your national multicultural principles are getting forgotten in the mix of the new cold diplomacy.
The third takeaway is that our group wears the cloak of invisibility where everyone looks the same. And when you cannot hear us speak, we will be equally marginalized in your eyes.
Chinese Australians have no room left to move in the valley of the Yellow Peril. We are all for one, deemed by mainstream to be always fresh off the boat. My great grandfather landed on Australian shores. Some 150 years later and I cannot even raise a trace of a Chinese accent and yet I stand with my own diaspora to scream silently at the Lowy report.
A third-generation Chinese-Australian, Kingsley has had a diverse career, spanning power engineering and investment banking from Melbourne to Canada and Asia.
In 2006, Kingsley co-founded The People’s Solicitors alongside Jeff Shaw QC, the former New South Wales Attorney-General, and later a Supreme Court judge, to represent disadvantaged individuals and the less privileged.
He remains an active Honorary President of the Chinese Community Council of Australia. His three-year tenure as the National President of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association was transformative.
Comments
28 responses to “Chinese Australians, forever to be condemned as ‘fresh off the boat’”
Excellent, Kingsley Liu. And a good thoughtful response from many. On a small but important point – the word Chinese ‘diaspora’ is indeed inappropriate . Let us use the accurate term ‘Chinese Australian communities’ (note plural) to reflect the facts of historical and source country diversity . Tony Kevin,
Hi Kingsley, thank you for your comments and actually enjoyed the bit about the “the cloak of invisibility where everyone looks the same. And when you cannot hear us speak, we will be equally marginalized in your eyes”.
And yet, we are not invisible. We are tagged because of our very own presence, by our heritage, by our colour, by our genealogy, by our names. We are the Visible and Dreaded Other, and have to be browbeated into submission and pressed into a corporeal nation-like entity to be used and abused whenever necessary.
In the 1990s, I remembered taking on Andrew Bolt at a conference on a Immigration. At that time, there was a loot of media space on how Asians and Chinese were taking over selective public schools. Even Marcus Einfield was party to this virtue-name calling agenda. I asked him how he, as a second-generation Dutch Australian could be criticising Chinese and Asian-Australians when many had and have been here longer than him. I also asked him when we would be accorded and be regarded as Australians.
This is indeed the viral load – the frightened country and its inability to deal with difference. It sought to wipe out differences – the First Nations Peoples, the Chinese, the Muslims and so on – it seeks to create and maintain a phantasm of whiteness which is incongruent with modern day Australia.
As an aside, Chinese Australians too have their problems. They refused to get involved in the dirty world of politics for fear of being tainted. I had called for greater activism and involvement since the 1980s and really, if one looks at the composition of Sydney’s population, over 40% are Asians and yet, their representation is so poor. It would not have happened in the USA or even the mother lode, UK!!
Dear Mr Liu
Thank you for your important essay. I am deeply troubled by this problem arising since 2017 in relations with China and especially by the way it has poisoned the lives of people with Chinese connections (or just similar appearance) in Australia.
I joined the foreign service in 1964 and experienced the difficulty of working in Asia when we had the White Australia Policy, something obnoxious to me. I was concerned about the prospect of us becoming the white trash of Asia, equivalent of apartheid South Africa. That went away with Whitlam and it was a huge pleasure to meet members of the Chinese community before taking up my appointment as ambassador in Beijing. When I presented my credentials to President Li Xiannian I made the observation that the long term relationship between Australia and China would be built on the quality of human connections. I had on the way to Beijing been guest at dinner with an extended Chinese family, most of whom were Australian citizens. The President was interested to learn that the patriarch of that family was a member of the CPPCC.
The huge enthusiasm for China was disrupted by the Tiananmen tragedy; recovery was distorted by the Howard perception that the relationship was all about money. The relationship failed to regain strength because it was stuck in the money, not people, not culture. Discussion of China remains in such limited money/no money frame. It will be hard to dig out of this mess. Even in this forum that became comfortable for Asian including Chinese Australian voices there is a tendency to talk past you. And last year there was an influx of hostile voices.
Cornerstone to the policy adopted by the Fraser Government in 1980 was that we should build a relationship to be valued by whatever government in China (and hopefully whatever government in Australia). Cornerstone to multicultural policy at that time was recognition of equal entitlement of all Australians. We now have to push back against folly and bigotry and shirt-fronting arrogance (and simple minded surveys).
Mr Argall,
I noticed the rapid deterioration of relationship between Australia and China once the LNP took government. A book that I read recently about the Middle East reminds me of how important it is to maintain a good relationships between between neighbours. The author mentions that when Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was President of Iran, the relationship with Saudi Arabia was beginning to improve because of his efforts at reconciliation. Once Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took over the Presidency, his hostility towards the Saudis led to a deterioration of the regional situation. We now see endless conflicts in the Middle East between the Sunnis and the Shia. One wonders what the situation would have been if Rafsanjani (he died in 2017) or someone like him were to remain President of Iran . The question is, how do we maintain a relatively consistent approach in our foreign relations across successive governments?
I think that to discuss violence in the middle east we have to note that Australia has been engaged in illegal war in the middle east for two decades now. Invasion of Iraq turned a badly governed country into an ungovernable country and has largely handed Iraq to Iran. We have imported into Australia things we rush abroad to oppose with violence. As the late Norman Mailer observed in a speech at the beginning of the Iraq war:
“Fascism is more of a natural state than democracy. To assume blithely that we can export democracy into any country we choose can serve paradoxically to encourage more fascism at home and abroad. Democracy is a state of grace that is attained only by those countries who have a host of individuals not only ready to enjoy freedom but to undergo the heavy labor of maintaining it.”
That general proposition applies to conditions short of war, to vilification and presumption of moral superiority. China has now criticised Australia’s offshore detention practices at the UN Human Rights Council and “The Quad” have declared they will restore democracy in Myanmar…
Mr Argall,
Thanks for the response and the beautiful quote on fascism and democracy by Norman Mailer. Really, I have never read such a wonderful description of two different political systems in such a short articulation. Best wishes.
Dennis, I resonate with your thoughts. Please spare us from being patted on the head as cash cows and model citizens.
But then, um… this is the Year of the Ox, metal ox, Kingsley. Not about cash: “Having an honest nature, Oxes are known for diligence, dependability, strength and determination. These reflect traditional conservative characteristics.” https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/ox.htm
Someone wrote here about inadequate political participation by people of Asian descent. David Suzuki, renowned Canadian ecologist, wrote that first generation migrants focus first on security and providing a future for their children. Later generations? … well it’s not easy here in PrejudiceWorld. All hail Penny Wong.
Unshackling of the old bullock tray has taken time. The Anglo – Asian connection started and continues on colonial basis. But modern day cultural diversity expression in Australia & elsewhere has already taken root and will grow moreso. Todays responsible community will ensure true multicultural integration as it ought to be. The needs of national security, the balance of foreign affairs and trade and proper perspective of foreign influence ought not be complicated mechanisms without the current level of carpet level bashing and weaponizing all across the spectrum of geo politics down to community affairs
The result of the kind of nationalism that Abbott through to Morrison have created has meant Australia is becoming far more insular, parochial, and withdrawn into its isolationist bubble from the rest of the world. The only exception is Morrison meddling in Chinese affairs where the pathetic media in this country always make him a hero for doing it, often inflating his role as being a key international player. International media does not see it that way however. (1)
At least in Europe many countries share several boundaries and by default they have to relate to other cultures around them as well as other languages. Some individual countries speak several languages as well, and many Europeans willingly learn English on top of their own language for work and travel reasons. I’ve known of medical doctors who had to study half their years in the their own country learning in German when their native tongue is French, making their workload far more difficult. They also learned English as well.
Australia, particularly under Morrison has been seriously dumbed down, and it reflects much of his limited understanding of the world and other cultures. Only Australia counts, and if not Australia, he is pandering willingly to the US with total subservience, or jumping into action first off the block with anti-China rhetoric in an effort to appease the US. People like Morrison in this country, have willingly let themselves become indoctrinated with American culture as well, so much so that the prime minister in his daggy-dad mode reflects more of a Homer Simpson than anything we could have once called Australian.
Currently he uses stealthy forms of racism against Chinese to popularise himself, and the press more than amply back him up, often being more racist again. Somehow no one notices except Chinese people who suffer abuse here. We have institutions here that should be monitoring this situation and doing something about it, but characteristically they are toothless tigers, and the weight of misinformation swamps any change. But it is not the first time racism is used by Liberal governments in recent years or even far back in the past when Labor also contributed to racist policies. Since 2013 we’ve seen a seamless transition from anti-Muslim rhetoric which targeted anyone with Middle Eastern, Arabic, Afghani, and in some cases S.E. Asian Muslim backgrounds. Before that its been the Indians, Japanese, Pacific Islanders, Italians, Greeks, Africans in Melbourne etc. In other words anyone that did not come from England or is descended from Britain, or is not a native English speaker.
Many Australians have learned the way of a comfy life that is disconnected from how people live in other countries. Our lifestyle has become highly focused on material values, financial largesse, hedonism, excessive attention to sport and media stars, entertainment, wonder consumerist distractions, and essentially avoiding intellectual activities unless it gets you a job. It appears from comments that can be read in the newspapers that learning anything about another country outside of Australia is just far too much effort. Prejudice, in turn driven by a sense of victimhood and blame has replaced balanced intellectual inquiry and making an effort to learn. Xenophobia particularly with China is on the increase. The government assist by trying to destroy universities and stop people from studying arts. There’s no encouragement to learn other languages. We shout Ozzie oi oi and are only concerned about ‘Australians’ in the news. First world problems abound: Christian Porter paints himself as the unfortunate victim requiring mental health leave while the same government has tortured many refugees and left them without medical assistance. No concerns about their mental health or health in general in this case. Dare I also mention Robodebt and mental health and suicide? We no longer care about our neighbouring countries, and because as they are often critics of Australian policies, we shut them out. No one dare criticise Australia, otherwise they’ll get a dose of nationalist pseudo-patriotic wrath from the government or media. Most people have no idea how economies work, and accept mainstream news as if it is a bastion of truth. Sky News is becoming more popular. We are so naive as to not see how we are being repeatedly lied to. The media is now junk-food for the easily duped mind.
I am very concerned for Australia where it is at now as it retracts from the world. I think we are lining ourselves up for huge disasters at many levels and the current government are the worst we could have in office for these times. With energy, environment, economy, equality, diplomacy, multiculturalism, vision for a better future etc, we are failing big time. They couldn’t give a toss about Australians, they promote mediocracy, lying, cronyism, corruption, opacity, more insularity, and irresponsible nationalism. It’s always been a tool to win votes. They are more concerned about their own career success than anyone else – it is even something to cry over when you’re born to rule intentions dissipate. Pride in white Australia with this government stops many issues that need to be resolved from taking place, even with indigenous Australians.
I feel for Chinese people here because they are easy targets. They look different. And as a mark of gross stupidity those that abuse them often confuse Chinese people with any person of Asian background. In my entire life I have never seen such a concerted effort driven by racist intent directed at any country. ‘Yellow Peril’ is well revived and Australians diminish their worth by falling for such anachronistic trash.
(1) I note with the current Quad situation Morrison was cast as the big man running the show with a proposed meeting, but the reality is that the US is worried India may be showing a little more interest in China than they would like. Without India the Quad is a waste of time, if it isn’t already. It is no NATO as some would like to see it. India getting together with China is anathema to the US, but I think they are destined to work more closely to advantage. India could do well with Chinese initiatives, knowhow, and business, and both countries are emerging as developing nations. China could be a good influence.
Quad summit announce a month ago: https://www.indianpunchline.com/us-reboots-quad-in-unseemly-hurry/
Indian doubts on Quad: https://www.indianpunchline.com/biden-proposes-a-quad-summit-this-is-why/
Thanks Bob. I had read the second article, but not the first. It paints a very different picture to the way the media sing Morrison’s tune here. Even just the title is ridiculous.
“Scott Morrison, Joe Biden’s ‘Quad’ meeting to bring four-nation alliance to ‘whole new level’ ”
Yeah sure. But then Matthew Knott ???? Totally Americanised.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/scott-morrison-joe-biden-s-quad-meeting-to-bring-four-nation-alliance-to-whole-new-level-20210310-p579bd.html
2 important points that M.K. Bhadrakumar made in his latest post are:
1. Myanmar is like Yugoslavia- the country is likely to break up if the US gets its way
2. US is trying to prevent China from getting the land corridors to the Indian Ocean to escape the Straits of Malacca choke point.
Despite the NED and other NGO’s spending millions on promoting ‘human rights and democracy’, the QUAD will not win against the Myanmar military. Aung Sang SK was very unwise to allow the massive proliferation of what really is the CIA working towards regime change. The military is the custodian of the country’s integrity- even Aung Sang SK accepts that- they will kill as many human rights agitators as necessary. Not being callous here, this is just realpolitik.
India will have to weigh carefully what the Americans are asking them to do. As if they have not learnt the lessons of 300 years of abject experience under British colonial rule.
Did you ever read Shashi Tahroor’s book “Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India”.
It’s a not a bad effort in pointing out to Indians what happened to their country and their people at the hands of the British.
India is taking more time to wake up, part of it is to do with very poor education standards within the bulk of the population, long hours of work, and little means to improve on that. Part of the problem too is that Pakistan and China get on fairly well, so that makes it difficult for India to eat humble pie.
I note it is now selling China iron ore.
Yes, I did read the book. But only half of it because there were too many pages! Much easier to watch Shashi Tahroor talking about it at the Oxford Union.
Not only poor educational standards; the elites of India are still enthralled by the B/S left to them by the British. There are huge waiting lists for the most elitist, and of course, the most colonial of gentleman’s clubs. Not unlike say the Jockey Club of Hong Kong. The Brits have left, but the new albeit super rich coolies still aspire to be an English gentleman! [I am sure you won’t have a problem entering these clubs with your skin tone, but it would be problematic for me!].
I can’t see India really waking up, or liberating themselves from colonial ideas. In a way, the Brits have absolutely stuffed up their real sense of pride as Indians. Modi and his extremist “Hindutva” is also causing huge issues with its anti-Muslim ideology.
Thank you George for a splendid response. I would be hard put to add anything more of substance.
Thank you julianp
George, good points made and you raise many interesting political cards currently in play.
Thank you Kingsley.
I am a descendent of the First Fleet, my family have been here since day one and so we have English heritage.
But I cannot stand racism in any form and I have to say something about the unjust treatment of Chinese people no matter where their origin is. Your case in particular is incredible given that your family has been here for a long time as well, you are as much an Australian as any of us, yet because you have Chinese features you face the same abuse.
Its certainly not the first time this happens in Australia either.
How unfortunate that we don’t see beyond our limitations, and for once realise how much Chinese culture has to offer us other than Chinese takeaway and fortune cookies that the Chinese didn’t even invent.
It’s a report by the Lowy group. I want to say already that … well … enough said! Paranoia along racist lines… out of a right-wing “think-tank” – certainly not to be taken seriously (except within a narrow corrupt certainty of LNP/Murdoch Press values – of greed and rorting and looking-after-mates)! To be blunt – bullshit!
Chinese Australians are tasting the sour grapes of the dying Anglo-culture, now that China has retaken its place at the centre of civilisation.
Sir,
Thank you for such an excellent analysis of a narrow minded survey that never ceases to distort the minds of Australians about their fellow Chinese citizens. When we moved to Australia 36 years ago, I was third generation Chinese Malaysian and my wife was fourth generation Malaysian. Now, we have three generations living in Australia as Australian citizens. So China is not anymore “Motherland” to us than Africa is “Motherland” to a black American. What is not realised by both sides of the divide is that our attachment is to our ancestry. We have over the generations never forgotten that the family is central to our very being. Embedded in the idea of family are the essential practices of what makes us (I speak for myself) Chinese. The values: the traditional practices of ancestral worship (with I still practise), the care for every generation of the family to ensure its continuity, respect for the older generations; and most important of all, the keeping of the surname. Of course, there are other Chinese who have other ideas of what it is that makes them Chinese. The purpose of mentioning the above is that there are differences and commonalities that are not necessarily political.
I would also like to point out that inasmuch as language informs our thinking, the use of certain words helps to perpetuate stereotyping. One which I raised earlier in P&I is the word “diaspora”. The word originated from the description of the two major migration of the Jews in their history when their homeland was sacked first by the Babylonians and later by the Romans. The whole nation was dispersed throughout the Middle East (mostly Egypt) and later throughout Europe. The significance of the diaspora as stated by many historians is that they carried their nation on their backs with them. In other words, the Jews were a nation, with or without a country. That probably aggravated their persecution in the host countries. There is nothing comparable in the trickle of Chinese to Australia or the rest of the world. To me, the word “diaspora” connotes in the parochial minds of many Australians that the Chinese too carry their nation on their backs in Australia or wherever they choose to settle. It is another way of saying that they are their “Motherland’s” fifth column. Hence they are condemned forever as potential traitors to their country of settlement.
Yes, diaspora is a strange word. So are sojourner & outlander, but I like celestial with its wierd context
Mr Liu,
I raised the appropriateness of the word “diaspora” again, although no one has to this point in time agreed with me, because I honestly feel that its replacement of the common word “migrant” has a proscriptive effect on the minorities in this country and elsewhere. My concern, although it is not obvious, is that the winds of politics change and with it the target of derision but language remains relatively stable over time. Several decades ago, the Anglo world took pains to address discriminatory language towards women by doing away with words like “chairman”, “workman” (for labour) or “spokesman” (for spokesperson). Inclusive language does much to reduce xenophobia. Anyway, thanks again for an excellent analysis.
I appreciate your wonderful comments
I probably speak for more here than myself, so thank you also you for a very important article. The rest of Australia needs to hear what you say.
Australian of Chinese heritage are now the newly minted “New Muslims” to be feared, loathed and hated.
Isn’t it incredibly easy to make the 20 year-old “Muslim and Islamic threat” vanish into thin air and invent a brand new existential threat to Australia?
Is that a reflection of the power of the Islamist and Chinese threat or the power of the Deep State to freely undermine our liberal democracy?
Over the many decades, millions of Australians of British heritage made their pilgrimage to and many sojourn in Mother England. Their loyalty to Australia were never questioned.
But mere “favourable thoughts” of China is now an insidious mortal sin, potentially illegal, definitely disloyal to Australia. It makes a mockery of the newly amended national anthem:
Australians all let us rejoice
For we are ONE and FREE
We are “ONE” if you dream of England, but you are NOT ONE if you dream of anything else, including First Australian Dreamtime.
For we are…”FREE”… to pay homage to Mother England, but you are NOT FREE to pay homage to wherever-you-came-from. If you do, you are disloyal, a disruptor to Australia’s social, cultural and political cohesion. And, most importantly, you are a national security threat.
The Deep State is joined at the hip with the US Deep State. Leaders of the ‘Free World’!
In our national discourse, tough luck if you look Asian or Aboriginal! The mainstream and LNP can declare their often fascist and racist thoughts, but for us praising Xi Jinping and China for banishing absolute poverty in China for the first time in Chinese history, it’s a no no! You may get raided in the early hours of the morning by the Deep State compromised AFP!
That’s Australia circa 2021. Pathetic leaders who are dogs to their US masters!