Abstract

Refugees began to flee South Vietnam after its collapse in April 1975. Three years later the ethnic Chinese left the country in another exodus. Of the 270,000 arriving in China, nearly half were accommodated in Guangxi, where they were to rebuild life anew on farms, factories and fishing villages. While it has been found that refugees from Vietnam in the West continue experiencing difficulties, little is known about the condition of those in China. As a first attempt, this paper examines the strategies adopted by the Guangxi authorities in receiving the incomers and assisting them to settle in the province. Upon arrival in China the refugees were faced with problems somewhat different from those encountered by their counterparts in the West. There was neither language nor cultural barrier to overcome. The fact that they were able to gain employment had more to do with the local economic structure and the nature of work than with effective planning. But given the suddenness and the sheer volume of the influx, the efforts made by the Chinese authorities cannot be dismissed.

This content is only available as a PDF.
You do not currently have access to this article.