Chinese Patriots

Of all the SEA countries, it’s undeniable that Vietnam and Thailand had been most successful in integrating their Chinese diasporas. In fact, it’s very difficult to find people of pure Chinese descent in these two countries. Ask any Thai Chinese and he’ll identify himself as Thai national, period.

Circa 2000, I went into a shop in Chiangmai and found out that the old uncle minding the store was a 老上海 who escaped from China during the Cultural Revolution。My Thai was better than his.He was sighing as we conversed in Mandarin. He seemed to regret leaving China, as if he had forgotten that he had feared for his life when he left.

I asked him if he had plans to visit China to see his relatives. His answer puzzled me till this day.

“人家比我们有钱了。我们抬不起头了。”

Thank goodness his children and grandchildren didn’t think that way.