On September 18, 1931, the “September 18 Incident” ushered in a grueling 14-year conflict for China. Throughout this tumultuous time, overseas Chinese communities rallied in anti-Japanese movements, providing vital support that contributed significantly to China’s eventual victory. In a recent interview with journalists from China News Service, several scholars and expatriates highlighted the indispensable role that overseas Chinese played in the war, furnishing substantial human, material, and financial resources.
Zhang Xiuming, Deputy Director of the Chinese Institute of Overseas Chinese Studies, underscored the dramatic economic impact of expatriates during this period. He explained how they bolstered the war effort by donating money and goods, purchasing government bonds, sending remittances, investing back home, and boycotting Japanese products, all of which formed a robust support system for resource supply and production.
When it came to donations, the involvement of overseas Chinese was both extensive and sustained over many years. Zhang noted that their contributions were not limited to financial support; they also provided a variety of essential materials for the war—everything from airplanes and trucks to vital goods like medicine and food.
In terms of manpower, many overseas Chinese returned to join the fight. Zhang revealed that tens of thousands from Guangdong province responded to the call, exemplified by the formation of the Southern Overseas Chinese Mechanic Corps. Others organized rescue teams and service organizations to assist both on the frontlines and in support roles. There were also groups of expatriates who formed慰问团, or慰问 teams, to offer encouragement and inspections back in China.
Prominent figures within the overseas Chinese community included Chen Jiageng, seen as a “flag of the overseas Chinese and a national luminary,” Situmetang, a founding member of the Chinese Liberal Party, and Thai businessman Li Guangyan, who dedicated his efforts to the war. Zhang stressed that these leaders were crucial organizers of support for China, and their stories merit greater recognition.
As 2024 approaches, marking the 85th anniversary of the Southern Overseas Chinese Mechanic Corps’ return to assist China in the conflict, the Macao Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese is planning commemorative events. Huang Quanchang, Vice President of the Federation, reflected on how, 85 years ago, young expatriates chose to leave their comfortable lives overseas, bidding farewell to loved ones to return home for the fight. This brave choice has become a celebrated chapter in the story of overseas Chinese.
Huang shared a poignant detail about the mechanics, revealing that some women disguised themselves as men to return home. Bai Xuejiao, born into a merchant family in Malaya, once expressed in a letter to her parents, “Home is what I long for, my parents and siblings are what I love, but the shattered motherland is what I miss and cherish even more.”
Huang himself moved from Myanmar to Macao in August 1967. His family made the challenging journey over the course of eight months, traveling from Wanting to Kunming, often hitching rides with the Southern Overseas Chinese Mechanic Corps, where the limited space available became their seating area.
“I grew up hearing stories about the Southern Overseas Chinese Mechanics and have been actively involved in organizing related events,” Huang said. This year’s activities have involved over 80 students from three local schools, aiming to educate the younger generation about this vital piece of history.
Zhang Xiuming emphasized that while there has been considerable research into the contributions of overseas Chinese to China’s war efforts, their roles in their host countries and in the broader anti-fascist movement remain underexplored. He advocated for greater recognition of the sacrifices and contributions made by the overseas Chinese community, noting that their actions garnered respect and acknowledgment from both citizens and governments in their host countries. He urged the international community to take closer notice of this important segment of history.
