Chinese American Immigration
The Chinese American immigration consists of two distinct periods: first wave occurred between the 1850s and 1880s and ended in the appearance of federal laws that restricted the immigration: and the second wave that started in 1970s and still continues to this day. Immigrants from China are the third-largest group of foreign nationalities that live in the States, numbering more than two million people (Dawson par. 1).
First and Second Wave
In 1850s, political instability and pressures from the Chinese government forced thousands of Chinese immigrants to move out of the country in search for a job. It was reported that more than 500,000 people moved to the United States, which resulted in the federal government passing the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. However, unlike the Chinese American immigrants of the 19th century, the post-1965 immigrants from China were skilled and moved out of the country for education and temporary work.
The main pathway for Chinese immigrants to the United States is the family-sponsored visas given to the immediate relatives of the US citizens. Moreover, among all population of immigrants from Asia, the family sponsored visas are the most prevalent visas (Malik par. 4).
Anti-American Attitudes
Despite the huge waves of immigration, the Chinese government does not see any potential in relations connected with Americanization of China. Thus, the picture of the U.S. ambassador to China, Gary Locke, taken when he drank Starbucks coffee with his little daughter at the Sea-Tac airport caused a lot of discontent from the Chinese government that considers such lifestyle offensive (Wong par. 2).
Another example of anti-American attitudes on the part of the Chinese government is the fact that a successful engineer Hu Zhichenf can’t return to his homeland because the Chinese officials say that he is wanted. However, there is no evidence of who wants him and for what reason (Jacobs par. 2). Nevertheless, the Chinese government treats all undutiful citizens with extra rigor. Chen Guangcheng, a blind advocate for women rights and opponent of the strict family planning policies was held captive by the government even after serving time in jail. He was forced to escape and found a way to the American Embassy, causing a diplomatic crisis in order to free himself (“After Epic Escape from China, Exile Is Mired in Partisan U.S.” par. 1).
Uncertain about the trajectory of the Chinese government as well as unsatisfied with the level of education in the country, Chinese citizens still continue leaving the country for the better future. Moreover, the lenient US immigration policy that encourages Chinese skilled workers to take jobs in the States also contributes to the increased immigration (Hooper and Batalova par. 6). Reforms in the US immigration policies would likely continue to invite educated and high-skilled workers from China; however, it would be harder to bring extended relatives along.
Conclusion
To sum up, the Chinese American immigration is an ongoing process that has not stopped yet, on the contrary, it is gaining momentum with every year. The anti-American attitudes from the Chinese government as well as many restricting policies concerning women’s rights, and family planning force the population to reconsider living in the country. Moreover, many encouragements from the US government for skilled and educated workers to move to the States also greatly contribute to the Chinese American immigration.
Works Cited
After Epic Escape from China, Exile Is Mired in Partisan U.S. 2013. Web.
Dawson, Kelly, Chinese Immigration to US Still Rising. 2013. Web.
Hooper, Kate, and Jeanne Batalova, Chinese Immigrants in the United States. 2015. Web.
Jacobs, Andrew, Engineer’s Return to China Leads to Jail and Limbo. 2011. Web.
Malik, Sanam, Asian Immigrants in the United States Today. 2015. Web.
Wong, Edward, Photo of ‘humble Locke’ helps Biden as he starts China visit. 2011. Web.