Greater China - Political Usage

Political Usage

The term is often used to refer in an attempt to avoid invoking sensitivities over the political status of Taiwan. Some Taiwan independence supporters object to the term as it implies that Taiwan is a part of some concept of China. Some supporters of Chinese reunification also object to the term as it implies that "Greater China" is different from China. For many Asians, the term is a reminder of the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere", a euphemism for the Japanese Empire.

At the time the term started gaining currency in the 1980s, it began to meet with objections from those representing mainland Chinese interests. They expressed concern at the possibility of opportunistic non-citizens, motivated more by profit than loyalty or patriotism, seeking to take advantage of Chinese economic growth, and at the erosion of the Chinese nation-state. One such scholar described typical objections:

From the national perspective, we reject the concept of a Greater China. From the legal perspective, we cannot mix up different nationals because they have the same language and culture as we do . . ., most Southeast Asian Chinese reject this concept. Taiwan likes this view of Greater China. It is a business concept to capitalize on China's development. Western scholars see a stronger China and project their own model by exaggerating data on overseas-Chinese development. This problem must be seen on the level of government-to-government relations. We see things as a business matter. Overseas Chinese come not because they are patriotic but because of investment benefits. We need to clearly differentiate between those who are nationals, and those who are from overseas. —Huang Kunzhang, professor at Shantou University

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