The Assimilation Issues Of Yunnan Chinese In The Northern Thailand

In Thailand, the relationship between oversea Chinese and dominant ethnic group are comparatively harmonious among the Southeast Asian countries, and the local society’s assimilation strategy towards Chinese group is the most successful. This is because tolerance of Thai society and enlightened strategy of Thai government. However, based on this successful model, the Assimilation Issues of Yunnan Chinese in the Northern Thailand performed very special. Specifically, they experienced “double standards and discriminatory treatment” since nationality problems, citizen’s power limitation and ethnic group stigmatization whether in the history or at the present. As a result, the assimilation processes and social mobility space of them lag behind traditional oversea Chinese group in Southern part(Cantonese, Teochew and Hakka People). It is not only because subjective reasons of Yunnan Chinese in the Northern Thailand, but also objective reasons of Thai government and society.This article is aimed at discussing the main body of Yunnan Chinese in the Northern Thailand(The original KMT’s isolated force and their descendant in Mae Salong region). Through reviewing the history of Yunnan Chinese in the Northern Thailand immigrated to Thailand and the current society and living situation of this group assimilated to Thailand, It is revealed three generations of this group establishes ethnic recognition in local historical progress, maintains Chinese cultural diversity and absorbs Thai cultural essences in the meantime, adapts to the local environment and then takes initiative in the fluctuant society workshop as well. By comparing the Assimilation model and specific procedure between Yunnan Chinese in the Northern Thailand and traditional oversea Chinese group in South Thailand, it is analyzed three assimilation difficulties including nationality problems and citizen’s power limitation, “chin ho” stigmatization, allocation of social resources and marginalization of social mobility. And then excavated deep reasons which lead to these difficulties.Based upon foundation, bring forward rational suggestionand feasible countermeasure. First, Strengthening Thai Chinese society unity and promoting the connection of clubs of Northern Thai Yunnan’s Chinese and other oversea Chinese clubs. Second, Chinese Mainland, Overseas Chinese affairs department in Taiwan and NGO should work together to help Northern Thai Yunnan’s Chinese getting a rid of historical differences, integrating into local society and rooting in Thailand by education aid, cross-cultural communication, economic cooperation and etc.Third, developing local economy, paying attentions to educational investments and enhancing own competitive ability. Fourth, actively launching publicity campaign to break the stereotype, and establish the new impression of ethnic group’s progress. It is hope that introduction these policies can eliminate the assimilation difficulties of Northern Thai Yunnan’s Chinese and help local oversea Chinese group to think about their own problems. Furthermore, let them make development in an all-around way while maintaining Chinese cultural tradition.