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Opinion | In Indonesia, new Chinese migrants not as welcome as Chinese cash
- Since the launch of Belt and Road projects, Indonesia has seen an influx of migrants from China, known as xinyimin
- As their numbers grow, xinyimin may come into conflict with Chinese-Indonesians and the indigenous population, who see them as exploiters and foreigners
Reading Time:5 minutes
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Migrants from China have been coming to Southeast Asia since the beginning of the 21st century. In Indonesia, these arrivals began flowing in around 2005. Known as xinyimin (literally, new migrants), some are investors, but most arrive as migrant workers, mainly working for China companies.
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According to official figures, there were 24,800 Chinese workers in Indonesia in 2017, most of whom were classified as skilled workers. However, many observers believe the real number may be double that.
After President Xi Jinping launched the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, the number of xinyimin increased dramatically, in tandem with the great numbers of state-linked and private China firms arriving in Indonesia.
This emerging new Chinese migrant community in Indonesia may come into conflict with Chinese Indonesians who consider these new migrants as competitors. Xinyimin may also become an issue for the indigenous population who see them as exploiters and foreigners.
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XINYIMIN BUSINESSES
According to one estimate, there are more than 1,000 China companies in Indonesia. Of these, 260 are members of the China Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia (CCCI).
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