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The Cold War Comes to Chinatown

As the Cold War dragged on and the Republic of China failed to effect its reconquest of mainland China, not all Chinese Mexicans continued to support the Republic of China. Some defected to support the People’s Republic of China, or openly traveled to mainland China or expressed their reservations about the ROC. For this, they were exposed as subversives and surveilled by the ROC, Mexican, and US governments. This chapter illustrates how transnational causes could have local repercussions, as some Chinese Mexicans began to chafe under their relationship with the ROC.

The Golden Age of Chinese Mexicans

The Chinese Civil War and the advent of the People’s Republic of China represented a profound challenge to the international legitimacy of the Republic of China, now on Taiwan. This chapter chronicles the efforts by ROC ambassador Feng-shan Ho to cultivate a relationship with Chinese Mexicans to present a positive image of the ROC and encourage the Mexican government to maintain diplomatic relations. This especially took place during the annual pilgrimage to the Basílica de Guadalupe and the Chinese Mexican response to the 1963 Economic and Commercial Exposition of the People’s Republic of China. Chinese Mexicans, far from being tools of the Republic of China, used such instances of public diplomacy to enhance their own image.

Those Who Remained and Those Who Returned

This chapter examines three case studies of Chinese communities which successfully resisted anti-Chinese campaigns: Baja California, Tamaulipas, and Chiapas. Anti-Chinese activists tried to replicate the Chinese expulsions of Sonora and Sinaloa in these areas, but anti-Chinese campaigns lacked popular or governmental support. After the conclusion of the anti-Chinese campaigns, these three communities held the largest Chinese communities in the country. Additionally, this chapter examines the effort by some Chinese Mexicans to return to Mexico after the anti-Chinese campaigns calmed down, convinced that hostility against them had gone away.

A New China, a New Community

This chapter illustrates the profound changes that affected the Chinese Mexican community after Mexico established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. Chinese Mexican political associations abruptly closed, while second- and subsequent generation Chinese Mexicans founded their own cultural associations. At the same time, new Chinese immigrants arrived from the mainland, speaking a different language and holding different cultural traditions. The different waves of Chinese Mexicans present a challenge to community unity. Finally, some Chinese Mexicans have slowly come to embrace the People’s Republic of China, making claims to belonging in mainland China while at the same time proudly declaring that their roots are now in Mexico.

We Won’t Be Bullied Anymore

Chinese Mexican political and financial support in support of the Republic of China during the Second World War was motivated by a desire for ‘home’ – both the desire for peace in migrants’ home communities in Guangdong province as well as a desire for increased respect in Mexico. Activities in support of the Chinese government included monetary contributions as well as cultural activities which helped bring the community together around the country. Chinese Mexican political activities and celebrations for the first time brought them in contact with friends and neighbors in Mexico and presented an alternative image of the community.

Introduction

Two celebrations carried out by Chinese Mexicans just a week apart—one featuring Mexican dance in Taipei, the other performing Chinese dance in Mexico City—allowed a small and seemingly insignificant community to demonstrate before a transpacific audience their understanding of home and belonging in a world sharply divided by the politics of the Cold War. On October 20, 1961, a visiting Chinese Mexican dance group performed before a packed house at the International House in Taipei, Republic of China (located on Taiwan after 1949). Wearing traditional costumes like the ...

Mexico for the Mexicans, China for the Chinese

The anti-Chinese campaigns in Sonora and Sinaloa, which successfully removed Chinese migrants from those two states, took place in an atmosphere of fervent political activity both among Mexican politicians as well as Chinese migrants themselves. Anti-Chinese activists took advantage of internecine struggles known as the Tong Wars to organize for the expulsion of the Chinese from northwest Mexico. Shielded by former president Plutarco Elías Calles, anti-Chinese associations in Sonora and Sinaloa acted with impunity in forcing the Chinese out of the region. The anti-Chinese campaigns were a traumatic moment for the community and horrified international observers.