Anti-Chinese feeling not strong in Asia
Anti-Chinese feeling not strong in Asia
TAIPEI (Reuters): Southeast Asia's financial woes and a
simmering political crisis in Indonesia have hurt firms owned by
ethnic Chinese but many regional executives said yesterday they
believed anti-Chinese sentiment was rare.
The financial crisis and social unrest in Indonesia were the
main topics of discussion on the sidelines of the World Chinese
Traders Convention in Taipei, attended by more than 1,000 Chinese
traders and merchants from around the world.
Chinese-Indonesian trader Chang Tsai-shen was among hundreds
of ethnic Chinese who have fled Indonesia as mobs attacked
shopping malls, businesses and homes they owned.
"The situation there was so chaotic and ethnic Chinese are the
easy targets," Chang said. "My uncle was killed during earlier
riots. We feel frustrated, but where can we go?" he said.
Ethnic Chinese have been main targets of the mob violence that
swept Jakarta and other major cities across Indonesia last week
because of their visible wealth and domination of commerce.
Although they make up less than five percent of Indonesia's
200 million people, ethnic Chinese own about 70 percent of its
non-land wealth.
Firms owned by ethnic Chinese make up more than 65 percent of
Indonesia's top 300 firms -- and 80 percent of their assets.
The riots were set off by three months of student demands for
reform and for President Soeharto to quit.
Taiwan investor Nancy Kuo, who set up a textile plant in
Indonesia seven years ago because of cheap labor costs, said her
plant was able to operate normally but now could not find
containers to export its products.
"There has been some protest in the street, but the mood was
relatively stable around my neighborhood," Kuo said.
"But the scheduled May 20 protest really worries me. The
situation could turn nasty and go out of control," Kuo said.
A Moslem leader has vowed to muster millions of protesters on
Wednesday, the Day of National Awakening that celebrates
Indonesia's first stirrings of nationalism 90 years ago, to
clamor for Soeharto to quit to avoid more mob violence.
Still, many people attending the three-day convention that
kicked off in Taipei yesterday said they believed anti-Chinese
sentiment remained rare, especially outside Indonesia.
"Unlike in Indonesia, there is no anti-Chinese sentiment in
Malaysia," said Chinese-Malaysian businessman Thor Hong Tong,
whose family has lived in Malaysia for three generations.
"The racial problems in Indonesia are caused by a mix of
complicated and longstanding factors, including uneven
distribution of wealth and high inflation. These problems are not
that serious in Malaysia," Thor told Reuters.
Thor said Malaysia's Chinese have been actively involved in
"patriotism movements" to save the country's embattled economy
since Asia's currency turmoil struck in mid-1997.
"Our businesses suffered a blow during the Asian turmoil, but
we support the government and are willing to sacrifice to save
the country's economy," Thor said. "There is a strong sense of
solidarity in Malaysia."
Dang Hung Lam, who owns a trading firm in Vietnam, said Taiwan
capital was welcome in Vietnam.
"The government knows we are there to do business. They know
we don't get involved in politics or anything and our investments
are good for the country," Dang said.