China's influence is felt far outside its borders. The country is an agenda-setter in this region and its impact - political, cultural and economic - can be felt around the world. Here, generations of Chinese-Thais have played a formative role in shaping modern Thailand. They have changed the political, economic and cultural landscape, and they have made contributions in fields as diverse as business, public service, the arts, academia, religion, the media, the military - even organised crime.
Chinese communities are relatively well integrated here. Many consider themselves "Thais of Chinese heritage" rather than putting their ancestral roots to the fore as is often in the case in the Philippines, Indonesia or Malaysia.
It's an environment that can be more conducive to taking a look at Chinese influence, past and present, locally and further afield, without invoking fear or politics.
Two recently published books examine that influence in starkly contrasting ways - one by focusing on successful individuals of Chinese heritage in Southeast Asia and their legacies, while the other looks at current power and population expansion in the broader Asia-Pacific. Both are relevant and looking at them in juxtaposition highlights their individual strengths.
Southeast Asian Personalities of Chinese Descent: A Biographical Dictionary is primarily a reference book - its two volumes and 3.2kg weight make it a hefty tome to carry around for casual reading. It is a veritable encyclopaedia of sinophilia, with 605 entries from 10 countries in the region, written by 177 authors.
These are not hagiographies, however, but fairly even-handed entries written by international academics, highlighting the nature of the individual's Chinese descent and his or her contribution to their country's political, cultural or economic scene. Each entrant was "selected because they are significant, prominent and have made a major impact, either positive or negative, in Southeast Asia". Among those included are community leaders, businessmen, politicians, professionals, artists, media leaders, writers, sportsmen, educators and religious leaders.
There are some anomalies, though. Wang Gungwu, who wrote the forward, is actually an Australian citizen. Michelle Yeoh continues to identify with Malaysia despite her Hong Kong and Hollywood successes. Independent film-maker Apichatpong Weerasethakul, a third-generation Sino-Thai, could have been included, but he identifies himself as Thai and in any case was excluded because he doesn't know the surname of his Chinese ancestor. Editor Leo Suryadinata, presented with many practical challenges, has succeeded in bringing order and relevance to a difficult task.
As the introduction states, "The Chinese have lived in Southeast Asia for centuries and many have been assimilated and absorbed into the so-called 'indigenous' communities. However, there are many who are only partially acculturated and still identify themselves as Chinese. Some have assumed a different nationality or nationalities but continue to regard themselves as being of Chinese descent. Therefore, while Southeast Asian Chinese share a common ancestry, they may not share the same culture."
Singapore, as might be expected, dominates the entries, as do men - only 70 of the 605 entries are women. But 10 countries are represented, with all subjects either self-identifying as Chinese or comfortable to be known as having that ancestry.
Thailand's 33 entries include politicians (Banharn Silpa-archa), artist Ophat Hanvanich, writers (Botan), educators (Puey Ungphakon), businessmen (Dhanin Chearavanont, Charoen Siriwatthanaphakdi), army officer Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, banker Chin Sophonpanich and many others.
Thaksin Shinawatra is included, but not his sister and current prime minister, presumably because it is too soon to judge Ms Yingluck's influence on national politics. "In just over a decade," states Thaksin's entry, "he has thoroughly transformed his country's politics, though the ultimate consequences of that transformation must remain unclear for now."
Dominated by businessmen, the list of Thai entries also has community, media and religious leaders, whose names are less well known but whose influence transcended the networks of Chinese and helped shape modern Thailand. Some are former patriarchs of families that continue to dominate local wealth indexes. Even a gambling lord, Hong Taechawanit, is included. It is fascinating to browse entries about well established company founders, former artists and politicians, but also to make new discoveries. Scandals and less praiseworthy accomplishments offer context and colour.
World.Wide.Web: Chinese Migration in the 21st Century - And How It Will Change the World takes a different approach to Chinese migration. Less interested in individuals and their accomplishments than the broader political implications of migration, and less interested in history than future repercussions, it takes a sometimes controversial view on current migration patterns.
Thailand-based journalist Bertil Lintner investigates the collective locations, motives, perils and successes of modern Chinese migrants, as well as their potential impact on the region and the likely global diplomatic consequences. Lintner studies whether the migrations are encouraged or facilitated by Beijing and the motivations behind them. Are they driven by China's expanding needs for energy, minerals, lumber and fish? Are they intended to expand the mother country's sphere of influence? Lintner even goes into the role of secret societies and triads in fleshing out his case.
In the Russian Far East, for example, 6.5 million people live on 6.25 million square kilometres, largely depending on China for food and supplies. As Moscow slowly loses political and economic control, and even the most powerful crime boss is Chinese, residents concede the real possibility of the territory, once held by China, being annexed again.
In Papua New Guinea's Port Moresby, many Australian and other Western settlers have left due to a severely high crime rate, replaced by hardy Chinese settlers. In the Solomon Islands their influence is also increasing, and occasional backlashes against new immigrants might potentially see Chinese military involvement to protect its citizens. In Fiji and Polynesia, older generations of Chinese descendants are being consolidated by newer arrivals, as is also happening in Southeast Asia.
Networks that smuggle Chinese are highly organised. A one-way ticket into the US can cost US$40,000 (1.15 million baht), to Europe $15,000. Hungary has seen one of the largest influxes. Some migrants first come to Bangkok on a 30-day arrival stamp, where they buy fake Singaporean or Japanese passports they can use for onward travel. Some get smuggled across borders, some claim political asylum, some go as labourers or economic migrants.
Chinese continue to emigrate around the world, up to 80,000 a year and around two million since the start of the reform era in 1978, according to estimates in the book based on intelligence figures. Conditions have changed, however, from those that fostered migrations over the preceding few centuries. China today has many job opportunities, and modern migrants are more likely to come from all parts of the country, not only the traditional areas in the southeast coastal provinces. Their motivations and destinations vary, but the implication here is that there is tacit approval for such population movements from policy-makers in Beijing. As Southeast Asian Personalities suggests, however, that may not necessarily be a bad thing.
SOUTHEAST ASIAN PERSONALITIES OF CHINESE DESCENT: A BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY: Edited by Leo Suryadinata, 1,551pp in two volumes, 2012 the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies paperback, S$198 (4,600 baht).
WORLD.WIDE.WEB: CHINESE MIGRATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND HOW IT WILL CHANGE THE WORLD: By Bertil Lintner, 208pp, 2012 Orchid Press paperback, 750 baht.
