Study On The Overseas Chinese In Russia

Since the early 17th century, the Chinese living in Russia have been survived nearly four centuries, which can be divided into three periods: the period during Tsarist Russia, the period during the Soviet Union and the period during Russian Federation.The history of Chinese in Tsarist Russia can be divided into two periods: the early period and the period of the end of 19th century and the early 20th century. The latter is main period.In the early period, Chinese in Russia included Turfutian, who were nomad tribes in the lower reaches of the Volga River from early 17th century to the mid-18th century; Chinese Shanxi merchants, who engaged in Chinese-Russia bilateral trade after the signing of "Treaty of Nerchinsk"; Dungan, who was a part of Hui nation and moved to Central Asia due to the uprising of Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia in early Qing Dynasty; China's aborigines of all ethnic groups, who became overseas Chinese because of living in the lands on the north-eastern frontier of China that were occupied by Russia by "Treaty of Aihui" and " Treaty of Beijing ". Dungan who settled in the two sides of Chu River reclaimed land, dug canals, spread the advanced farming techniques to Central Asia, which greatly promoted the socio-economic development of Central Asia. Early Chinese businessmen in Russia made outstanding contributions to the prosperity of Sino-Russian trade and the development of the commodity economy.In the end of 19th century and early 20th century,it formed the first climax of the history of Chinese in Russia, in which laborers were main. Tsarist Russia which obtained the jurisdiction of the Far East embarked on a series of large-scale construction projects in order to strengthen the control of the Far East. Since a serious shortage of labor in Russia and China's abundant supply of labor formed a clear contrast, large number of Chinese laborers pouring into the Far East and involving in the production of industrial and mining enterprises, the construction of railway and bridges, the building of military bases and ports and agricultural and sideline production must be a historical necessity. In this phase, the number of Chinese laborers to Russia assumed upward trend and reached the highest point. They endured sufferings to struggle in all walks of life, bled and perspired, contributed to the development of almost primitive the Far East region.The overseas Chinese in Soviet Union era included not only the laborers who fought heroically during the October Revolution and the civil war, but also the Chinese student studying in Soviet Union in the 1920s and after 1949, and those who escaped from Xinjiang in 1962.During the October Revolution and the civil war, Chinese laborers in Russia joined not only the Red Army, but also the Red Guards and the guerrillas. Instead of a small number of Chinese laborers to participate in, but whole passel of detachment or whole battalion and regimental force composed entirely by the Chinese laborers, the well-known "Chinese Red Army Battalion," "China Battalion", "Chinese Regiment" had emerged one after another. Chinese in Russia could be seen on all fronts at that time, they took up arms to fight to defend the Soviet, its scale, number and the far-reaching impact is unprecedented. After this, from 1921 to 1927, thousands of members of KMT and CPC were trained in Moscow Oriental College and Sun Yat-sen University. They had become the important figures of the two parties and played an important role after returning China. The members of Communist Party devoted to the arduous new democratic revolution, and made an indelible contribution to the growth of the CPC organizations, the labor movement, the construction of army and proletarian culture and the final victory of the Chinese revolution.After new China was founded in 1949, learning to the Soviet Union and studying in the Soviet Union reached the peak under the influence of various factors at home and abroad. In 1951, China began sending personnel to the Soviet Union studying and exchanging. In 1953, it peaked. In the 1960s, the pace of sending work slowed by the impact of the deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations, the number of Chinese going to Soviet Union dropped, and at last, educational exchange completely interrupted in 1966. Tens of thousands of students, skilled workers, researchers in various fields were trained and cultivated in Soviet Union in the fifteen years. Returning to China, most of them had become the leaders and backbone of all fields of China, such as hydro-electricity, geology, machinery, nuclear energy and education, health, culture and sports. Some of them had taken up the provincial and ministerial, even the highest party and state leadership, making a tremendous contribution to the motherland.In the 1980s, with the normalization of Sino-Soviet relations, the trade between China and the Soviet Union began. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Sino-Soviet relations transited to Sino-Russian relations smoothly. The trade between China and Russian Federation has developed steadily, and become the major importing nation each other, followed by increasing numbers of Chinese businessmen, students, laborers every year. In recent years, the situation has developed steadily. They play a prominent role in the mining industry, commerce, transport and agricultural production. They not only increase the income tax for all levels of Russian government and provide goods and services for Russian residents, but also create job positions for Russian, and become the driving force of the Russian socio-economic development, have an important role in promoting Russia shake off its protracted economic doldrums.In short, Chinese in Russia in various periods have made solid contributions to Russia and motherland, played a positive role in deepening the friendship between the peoples of the two countries.Through the development of several hundred years, Chinese in Russia have undergone tremendous changes no matter from education level, quality of life, or career structure. First, education greatly improved, from one-third of literacy initially to 28% of university-level education and nearly 100% rate of literacy at present. Second, the quality of life also has changed tremendously, in living conditions from the initial work shed to the present modern staff quarters, student apartments; from enduring starving and cold, suffering oppression and exploitation to running companies, setting up enterprises, and even possessing personal property. Finally, their occupational structure develops towards diversity and compatibility, from the first single workers or students to the present around the construction, industrial, commercial, agriculture, education and service industries, and other industries.With other overseas Chinese compared, the most notable feature of Chinese in Russia is that few people join the nationality of Russia and there is not Chinese communities and Chinatown.The number of Chinese-Russian is very few, most of Chinese in Russia have been in a short-term stay, not only because Russia is not an emigration country, but also because the rigid patterns of population have its influence which leads to an unopened policy and incompatible culture, although Russia has transited to a capitalist country. As a country across the Eurasian continent, Russia has been believed itself belonging to Europe. The difference of religious belief makes it excluding to the east nation, and the Russian nationalist tendencies is rather serious, they reject naturalization of foreigners psychologically. We need to mention the problem of the so-called China's "Population Threat" theory, which leads to some Russian have always been wary of Chinese and fundamentally caused the difficulties of Chinese citizenship and long-term residence.Since Chinese who live in Russian in long-term are few, and the Russian government does not support, the Russian people do not accept, it is hard to emerge Chinatowns or Chinese cities."Threat from China" Theory is a persistent problem, which should be noted in researching Chinese in Russia. The "Yellow Peril" theory which was raised in the late 19th century has evolved the "Population Threat" theory, the reason is nothing more than the following three aspects. First, the Russian nationalist and big country chauvinism have their self-esteem hurt when they face to increasingly affluent Chinese in Russia, some Russian people envy and exclude. They believe that the Chinese people seize their jobs, thus massive unemployment take place. They even believe a large number of Chinese people in the Far East will lead to the loss of the territories which was occupied during Tsarist Russia. Second, some Russian local authorities exclude Chinese through deliberate speculation in order to protect their own narrow interests in the Far East. Third, the Western anti-China propaganda and malicious negative reports drive a wedge between Sino-Russian relations.To sum up, this dissertation analyses characteristics and laws of evolution of Chinese in Russia, and discriminates the mistakes an d harm of "Yellow Peril" theory and the "Population Threat", and summarized the Chinese contribution to Russia and the motherland through historical description of the Chinese in Russia.. At last, I put forward some suggestions for better development of the Chinese in Russia.