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Contemporary Chinese Diasporas pp 187–206Cite as

Ethnicized Networks and Local Embeddedness: The New Chinese Migrant Community in Cambodia

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Abstract

Ethnic Chinese in Cambodia are the country’s largest ethnic minority. About 60 % are urban residents engaged mainly in commerce and the other 40 % are in rural areas. Since the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime, the once stricken Chinese community has been rejuvenated by an influx of new migrants from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and neighboring Southeast Asian countries. Enterprises set up by new Chinese migrants are now present in almost every city and town, particularly Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanouk Ville and Battambang. Chinese migrant entrepreneurs invest in building factories, banks, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, discos and casinos, while Chinese skilled laborers have been recruited to work in these enterprises, especially in garment factories. New Chinese migrants play a very important role in the economy of Cambodia, whose revenue relies mainly on the duties levied on their factories and companies.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Interview notes with the chairman of the Taiwanese Commercial Association of Cambodia, March 25, 2009.

  2. 2.

    Interview notes, November 5, 2011, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

  3. 3.

    See “Pamphlet on the China Hong Kong & Macau Expatriate & Business Association,” 2000, p. 3. Phnom Penh, internal publication. It can also be read on the official website: http://www.chkmeba.com.kh/about/statute.html

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  1. Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

    James K. Chin

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  1. James K. Chin
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  1. University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Min Zhou

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Chin, J.K. (2017). Ethnicized Networks and Local Embeddedness: The New Chinese Migrant Community in Cambodia. In: Zhou, M. (eds) Contemporary Chinese Diasporas. Palgrave, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5595-9_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5595-9_9

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