Diaspora Policies, Consular Services and Social Protection for Chinese Citizens Abroad

In this chapter we discuss China’s evolving policies toward Chinese nationals abroad, with particular attention to the expanding area of social protection. Our analysis shows that China’s policy-making activities concerning diaspora have been largely driven by a focus on economic agenda rather than social welfare. This chapter presents a detailed picture of China’s social protection provision towards its diaspora and shows how its policy-making is guided by priorities which vary from one field to another. We trace how “overseas Chinese affairs work” has developed through expanding policy infrastructure, encouraging China’s diaspora to participate in national economy and trade, science and technology developments, and large-scale crisis response, yet has seen limited developments in the area of day-to-day social protection of Chinese nationals abroad.