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Kyoto-CSEAS Series on Asian Studies
The Chinese Question: Ethnicity, Nation, and Region in and Beyond the Philippines
The rising strength of mainland China has spurred a revival of “Chineseness” in the Philippines. Perceived during the Cold War era as economically dominant, politically disloyal, and culturally different, the “Chinese” presented themselves as an integral part of the Filipino imagined community. Today, as Filipinos seek associations with China, many of them see the local Chinese community as key players in East Asian regional economic development.
With the revaluing of Chineseness has come a repositioning of “Chinese” racial and cultural identity. Philippine mestizos (people of mixed ancestry) form an important sub-group of the Filipino elite, but their Chineseness was occluded as they disappeared into the emergent Filipino nation. In the twentieth century, mestizos defined themselves and based claims to privilege on “white” ancestry, but mestizos are now actively reclaiming their “Chinese” heritage. At the same time, so-called “pure Chinese” are parlaying their connections into cultural, social, symbolic, or economic capital, and leaders of mainland Chinese state companies have entered into politico-business alliances with the Filipino national elite. As the meanings of “Chinese” and “Filipino” evolve, intractable contradictions are appearing in the concepts of citizenship and national belonging.
Through an examination of cinematic and literary works, The Chinese Question shows how race, class, ideology, nationality, territory, sovereignty, and mobility are shaping the discourses of national integration, regional identification, and global cosmopolitanism.
With the revaluing of Chineseness has come a repositioning of “Chinese” racial and cultural identity. Philippine mestizos (people of mixed ancestry) form an important sub-group of the Filipino elite, but their Chineseness was occluded as they disappeared into the emergent Filipino nation. In the twentieth century, mestizos defined themselves and based claims to privilege on “white” ancestry, but mestizos are now actively reclaiming their “Chinese” heritage. At the same time, so-called “pure Chinese” are parlaying their connections into cultural, social, symbolic, or economic capital, and leaders of mainland Chinese state companies have entered into politico-business alliances with the Filipino national elite. As the meanings of “Chinese” and “Filipino” evolve, intractable contradictions are appearing in the concepts of citizenship and national belonging.
Through an examination of cinematic and literary works, The Chinese Question shows how race, class, ideology, nationality, territory, sovereignty, and mobility are shaping the discourses of national integration, regional identification, and global cosmopolitanism.
392 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2014
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About the author
Caroline S. Hau
18 books32 followersCaroline S. Hau is a Professor with the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), Kyoto University.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 7, 2025
This is a strong academic contribution to sociocultural studies, integrating political and economic perspectives.. Although it was published ten years ago, its arguments remain relevant.
The book primarily focuses on the Chinese Question and the formation of Chinese identity in the Philippines. It situates Chinese Filipinos in an ambivalent position, marked by continual processes of alienation. Hau challenges Sinocentric constructions of “Chineseness,” instead foregrounding Southeast Asia and other regions as alternative loci of identification.
She further examines the conflation of Chinese ethnicity and class in the Philippine context, particularly through the lens of the kidnapping of Chinese Filipinos during the 1980s and 1990s. While the stereotype of the “rich Chinese” is prevalent across Southeast Asia, Hau highlights how the Philippine context is distinctive in the manifestation of this stereotype through targeted acts of violence, such as kidnapping—an occurrence that is far less common in neighboring countries.
Future studies could build on this work by examining the everyday lives of Chinese Filipinos, with particular attention to their interethnic interactions within the Philippine nation-state and their intra-regional engagements with other ethnic Chinese communities across Southeast Asia.
The book primarily focuses on the Chinese Question and the formation of Chinese identity in the Philippines. It situates Chinese Filipinos in an ambivalent position, marked by continual processes of alienation. Hau challenges Sinocentric constructions of “Chineseness,” instead foregrounding Southeast Asia and other regions as alternative loci of identification.
She further examines the conflation of Chinese ethnicity and class in the Philippine context, particularly through the lens of the kidnapping of Chinese Filipinos during the 1980s and 1990s. While the stereotype of the “rich Chinese” is prevalent across Southeast Asia, Hau highlights how the Philippine context is distinctive in the manifestation of this stereotype through targeted acts of violence, such as kidnapping—an occurrence that is far less common in neighboring countries.
Future studies could build on this work by examining the everyday lives of Chinese Filipinos, with particular attention to their interethnic interactions within the Philippine nation-state and their intra-regional engagements with other ethnic Chinese communities across Southeast Asia.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2023
DNF. Itigil na natin yung pagpapanggap na socio undergrad ako haha. This is a comprehensive, well-written book that would better serve a specialist rather than a layman. I entered believing I could enjoy it but to no avail.
The problem with much of local popular science/sociology is that there is no space where interested laymen can learn topics without having to feel like they're enrolling in a college course. Granted, this is no fault of the authors -- they recognize that the market for popular science is small, whether in the PH or even globally, so there is no incentive to produce such content. Kudos then to writers like Nick Joaquin and Ambeth Ocampo for being able to popularize historical topics.
Regardless, I look forward to the day when I could maybe come back to this and learn about my Chinese roots.
The problem with much of local popular science/sociology is that there is no space where interested laymen can learn topics without having to feel like they're enrolling in a college course. Granted, this is no fault of the authors -- they recognize that the market for popular science is small, whether in the PH or even globally, so there is no incentive to produce such content. Kudos then to writers like Nick Joaquin and Ambeth Ocampo for being able to popularize historical topics.
Regardless, I look forward to the day when I could maybe come back to this and learn about my Chinese roots.
May 8, 2021
Good! Thoroughly researched and posed a lot of relevant questions for Chinoys.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews