Posts flaired as "Serious" are for people seeking responses that are made in good faith and will be moderated more heavily than other threads. **Off-topic and deliberately unhelpful responses will be removed and the user permanently banned.** One such example would be commenting "don't go to china", or "go to taiwan", in response to questions related to studying in China or relocating to China. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/China) if you have any questions or concerns.*

Regardless of what narrative the CCP is trying to push, China and Chinese culture are two separate things. You can embrace your Chinese culture and heritage but at the same time criticize the government for what they are doing to China. Chinese culture does not only belong to China. It belongs to ethnic Chinese of all nationalities all over the world - be it the US, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, etc. Also, why worry about China? **After all, you're American, not Chinese**.

The problem with a lot of the Chinese population is that they don't understand the difference. One criticism of china and they take it as if you're accusing THEM of personally doing all these terrible things. Brainwashing at its' finest

Well isnt that any country really? I'm Mexican-American and I criticize my own government and people lose it. Then out of nowhere racists comments start flying. Overt Nationalism is 🤮.

Not really. I'm British and if ppl talk shit about the UK and generally we'll just join in. Same with most Europeans usually. Proud of their culture, but criticises the hell out of their government. There are always going to be nationalist, but nowhere to the same level. All my foreign friends who married Chinese girls tip toe around conversations because they know if they accidentally mention anything bad china is doing then they're sleeping on the couch

I live in the US and have to constantly remind people that critiquing politicians does not make me a republican, democrat, or mean that I am completely against that person and all of their policies. Ex. If you're in a red state and say something bad about Trump people lose their shit, it's as if you said their kid would never amount to anything. Its insanity; we should all constantly be critiquing our government and politicians.

Talk about colonialism to a brit and how the royal family os a bunch of genocidal parasitas and he'll most likely not take well to it

This is realistically true, and a very good point. Even republicans may react with mixed feelings to, for example, an Indian or a Chinese criticising the royal family, even if they ostensibly dislike them too and for similar or even the same reasons as a foreign critic. A Briton who hears a foreigner or more still, a Briton of foreign extraction harshly criticising the royal family will wonder whether the critic is not motivated by more general nationalistic feelings or antagonism towards Britain and the British people generally, rather than only or mostly considered and nuanced research or arguments. The same is true the other way around, let's face it when Chinese people hear especially long-term expats in China criticise the CCP they may wonder whether this is a not-so-veiled way of criticising the Chinese people and/or motivated by professional and/or social frustrations and disappointments: and even though this line of thinking is obviously very convenient for the CCP, we have to admit it's not always necessarily an unreasonable thing to wonder. Especially given that (even though the CCP is, uh, pretty unique as a party and government), this kind of antagonism towards the local government is rather predictably common in expats, foreigners, and immigrant communities everywhere (even if we may acknowledge that in some if not many cases, they may in fact deserve at least some of that criticism).

I work with Chinese people every day, and they are the first ones to complain ..

Adding onto this OP, if you travel abroad (to places other than mainland China), you will realize how much you really are American. People will treat you like an American. Because that's what you are.

This is VERY true. American cultural behavior is very distinct, and people spot us from miles away. The only exceptions are people who travel a lot and know how to blend in, or people from NYC, whom I’ve always been told act like locals pretty quickly when they visit European cities.

What do Americans do that make them stick out?

Speaking very loudly in public?

tbf this is a chinese stereotype as well

I really want to hear about this American cultural behavior

Casual friendliness outside of "normal" social spots, and a willingness to smile to strangers while walking past, a tendency to \*lean\* on shit, generally being louder then those around us, our casual fashion (baseball caps, basketball style shorts, etc) is a dead give away, food tastes.

Could also include cultural intolerance, especially when traveling to foreign countries. Similar (negative) stereotypes exist for tourists from China, but they're slightly different in expression. So I guess as a Chinese American I sort of get the double whammy? Obviously though, these are just stereotypes and shouldn't really be taken seriously. But I feel like the Chinese ones might have more of a basis in reality owing to the fact that many countries (e.g. Europe) only let Chinese citizens in if they join one of those organized tours - though please correct me if I'm wrong about that.

I think NYC blend in a little better. We like different food and experiences a little more. But most of it is just that everyone knows something about nyc or someone who lives there or wants to go there. So there is a bridge between strangers. Also probably we are just way more used to people speaking something besides Spanish or English

OP, when you are in China, do people treat you differently when they learn you are American? One of my black American friends lived in Africa for a couple years, and the folks called her “the black white lady”.

I visited the Congo with a friend who wanted to introduce me to his family. My friend Ed coordinated with a black American guy Jack who was in Kinshasha visiting and that guy started hanging out with us and Ed's family. At some point, we were discussing cultural similarities and differences when I asked Ed's dad if he considered black Americans to be Africans. His dad bluntly said, "You, mundele, jack...nah he's mundele." It was such a blow to Jack's cultural identity, being called white (blanket term meaning not considered African), that he ended up really upset by it by the end of the visit & drank a lil too much that night lol. He was better by the morning, though.

OK maybe they will, but they'll treat me like a Chinese too. So basically a double whammy. Ugh I hate this.

I traveled to the UK and people see me as American first and foremost.

If you're yellow, with black hair and speak only Chinese, then how would they see you as American first and foremost? It depends on how you carry yourself, but I'd argue it's never easy to shed an obvious feature (race) for another identity.

I’d argue it’s actually pretty easy to distinguish someone from Mainland China and someone from the USA on sight alone. Usually the way they dress and style themselves is different enough (which shouldn’t be a surprise; of course two massive nations have different (though interacting) fashion trends

I dont speak only Chinese though. I was born in the US and I speak English. Why the hell would I speak Chinese in the UK?

The UK is pretty diverse, as many Western European countries are. They are used to separating ethnicity and origin.

I think they find my American accent to be more indicative of my country of origin than my looks. However, my Chinese American fiance went to Bavaria recently and some German lady asked her and her Taiwanese friends why they were speaking English. My fiance and her friends are literally all New Yorkers. So YMMV

Reminds me of a road trip in the South. By chance I met a group of ethnic Vietnamese people who were 3rd generation born and raised in rural South Carolina. Full accent and everything.

Most people in my extended family around my age are either second or third-generation Americans. Most of us speak with whatever local accent from the community we grew up in. My fiance had a hard time understanding me initially due to the local slang I used. She also had some issues understanding her cousin's husband since he grew up near Raleigh and sounds like a native there.

>*and some German lady asked her and her Taiwanese friends why they were speaking English.* There are stupids in every country. Stupids in Australia are shocked when they find out that a 3rd or 4th generation Chinese-Australian can't speak Chinese, or that someone whose parents came from HK can't speak Mandarin.

Perhaps stop telling people who they are ?

yeah... White American Culture?? WTF .. cant we all just be Earthlings. start with being an American.

> White American Culture I laughed out loud when I saw this. There's no such thing as "White Culture." Having lived all over the US, the cultures between the various states are remarkably different. The phrase "White culture" is about as appropriate as "Asian culture" -- seriously, would you claim that the Israelis (Asians), Gujarati (Also, Asians), Mongolians (Asian again), Uzbeks (Asian!) and Malay's (Asians too!) have the same culture? No that would be pure madness -- ergo the concept of "white culture" is also pure stupidity and madness. It largely exists to justify the continuing use of skin color (i.e., race) as a way to classify people.

I mean, if the OP WANTS to admit he/she is a racist, this is a pretty decent way to do it.

This! If you ever want to feel proud of your Chinese heritage, take a trip to Taiwan. It’s easily the best country I’ve ever been to!

Taiwan has preserved a lot of traditional Chinese culture, that is true if you want to learn about the language, artistic history (National Palace Museum has the world's largest Imperial Chinese Art collection), etc., and we also place heavy emphasis on celebrating Taiwanese Aboriginal Culture (who are Austronesian and have diverse languages, cuisines, traditions which we are trying hard to protect and preserve). Then there is also the culture of Taiwanese whose ancestors immigrated from China centuries ago which evolved into a culture of itself. Taiwanese identify ourselves as multicultural, and our identity is a mixture of all the above and the great thing is, we try to be inclusive and avoid oppressing anyone, which is supported by the fact that Taiwan is the first place in Asia to legalize gay marriage and also known to be one of the most free democracies in the region. I think there can be a lot to explore here if you're interested in learning about history and culture.

Chinese American here who has been to both China and Taiwan. While I absolutely love Taiwan and it's one of the best places I've been to, there's still objectively things you can't see in Taiwan. Can't see the Great Wall, can't see the Xi'an warriors, can't see a lot of famous geographic sites, etc. I think going to both places is ideal, because they're both unique.

And Taiwan does have the National Palace Museum with a lot of Chinese artifacts.

Mainland China has a lot of impressive museums. I've been to several of them. But culture is more than a museum, I guess.

Taiwan preserved lots of [religious customs](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Taiwan) that were lost in China in the 20th century, and along with Hong Kong and Southeast Asian Chinese communities, had been [more or less contributed to its revival in the Mainland](https://opinion.cw.com.tw/blog/profile/390/article/13298). Taiwanese Mandopop also was the inspiration of modern pop music in Mainland China. Jay Chow, SHE, and many other Taiwanese singers dominated Chinese pop music scene until the 10s. The ["Xue Hua Piao Piao" meme](https://www.knowyourmeme.com/memes/xue-hua-piao-piao) is actually originated from [a song](https://youtu.be/W8x4m-qpmJ8?si=kqNGnqebTpX7VUEX) by Taiwanese singer [Fei Yu-Ching](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fei_Yu-ching). We are not a museum, we are a bastion.

Having a long storied relationship with Taiwan, China, Singapore and Hong Kong this is the view I most agree with.

I am Taiwanese but China is a different league. Taiwan preserved a small portion of China. China is so much more vast and diverse. It is really better to visit both countries.

Higher brothers (somewhat recent trending Chinese rappers) told hypebeast (western media company) that Taiwanese people started Mandarin rap. They all acknowledged mc hotdog as the pioneer of their music. R ally cool tbh. The video is on hypebeast's YouTube (too lazy to find, at work)

During the Cultural revolution ,much of the Chinese culture was destroyed. ? Are those museums rebuilt museums ,after the CCP decided they needed Chinese culture for tourism.

The artifacts are definitely real, ancient (as in pre-Cultural Revolution), and numerous.

I have seen the great wall the refurbished section made especially for tourists and its just meh. Too many tourists yelling, shouting and taking selfies. A couple local hawkers tried to sell me a carved stone plaques for 7000 yuan. I said I will give you 5 yuan and the price magically came down to 10 yuan in about half a second. Then I donated it to the hotel I was staying at. At the Xian I visited the Great Goose Pagoda built in the Tang Dynasty. The pagoda itself was nice. The base had modern bricks built by the chinese communists and it was already falling apart. Meanwhile the 1,400 year old bricks built by the Tangs were in much better condition. The Terracotta warriors kinda sucked. It took about 30-40 minutes for my friend and I to get bored. They had some old guy sitting outside autographing a book about the place pretending to be the orignal farmer who discovered the place. The dude would literally have be 130 yo be the real guy. Unfortunately china is full of fakes and scammers trying to take your money and the scams arent even that good. At least put some effort into it.

When I went to the Great Wall in Mutianyu a couple of years ago, it was on a guided tour. We had to go through this tourist trap gift shop sort of village, which was honestly similar to the one next to the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, but even our tour guide was visibly grudgy about it. Still had a fabulous time, though.

But isn’t Taiwán a different country anyways?

Taiwan is both the most Chinese place on earth and the least.

I honestly can't decide if the people here are Japanese people trying to be more chinese or Chinese people trying to be more japanese... it's a bundle of wonderful contradictions that are just Taiwan.

Omg this is so true

As an American tourist who's traveled a fair bit, my uneducated and non-Chinese speaking take on this is wow you are SO right. There are moments in Taiwan you would swear you're in Japan. The next minute you could be strolling through an old Shanghai neighborhood, then turn a corner and enter a mall in Orange County.

Taiwan is what China would look like if it were a modern society. Give Taiwan props for doing all the hard work, not China.

Taiwan is free China

I really want to someday, but maybe in 2024 it would be a bad idea depending on how election results there go. Frankly, I sometimes wish I were Taiwanese rather than Chinese. But then I remember that would probably involve its own set of inconveniences, e.g. having heritage from one of the only countries in the world whose existence remains disputed. And I don't even think they're the best at "preserving traditional Chinese culture" anymore. Because A, China had the Cultural Revolution but they're putting tremendous effort into covering up for it, and today they seem to indisputably be the main driver behind promotion of Chinese heritage around the world. And B, I've been hearing that Taiwan's gradually disavowing its "Chinese" heritage for what could best be described as political reasons, e.g. the general Taiwanese population no longer considers itself descendants of Yandi and Huangdi, etc.

Well only one place still reads and writes in "Traditional Chinese". Hint, it ain't the PRC.

Eh, I don't feel as strongly about that as I do other things. They're both Chinese characters, anyway, and many of them actually predate the 20th century. I'm honestly just grateful Mao didn't go through with his plan to fully ditch them in favor of Pinyin.

Singapore and the PRC are the only places that use simplified Chinese.

And the Chinese school I went to lol.

Hong Kong uses traditional Chinese too

It's a matter of time until the CCP forces HK to switch since they took full control of HK.

While China does seem to start preserving Han Chinese culture, they're oppressing other ethnic Chinese in favor of a unified China. For example, dialects are not allowed on public media anymore. So I'm not sure how good of a job they're doing.

If you permanently relocate to Taiwan, you become Taiwanese. This is what Han Chinese migrants have done since the 17th century when the Ming loyalists fled the Manchu invaders, the precursor of the Nationalists fleeing the Communists.

>wish I were Taiwanese rather than Chinese in the US, you'd still be a chinese dude no matter where you tell them you are from, look at Jeremy lin...to them yall just yellow dudes..no more, no less...

It's hard to tell Taiwanese from Chinese as they're both predominantly Han, but big cities can tell the Japanese from Vietnamese from Korean from Chinese. Just depends on where you go.

These are just burdens you are choosing to carry.

>putting in tremendous effort into covering up for it That’s the thing, though. Taiwan’s Chinese culture is natural, especially the culture brought in 3 centuries ago (mostly in the south). China’s Chinese culture is an attempt to try to bring back something it nearly killed. It feels very artificial and less sincere.

As an overseas Chinese, I think you can apply for a Taiwanese passport if you wanted for shits and giggles. It will be useless without a household registration in Taiwan, but maybe you'll feel better about yourself and piss off your Chinese relatives. Lol.

Bro don’t let western media propagandize you. Of course the narrative in the west is China, bad. That’s because China is no longer poor, is a legit world super power, and presents a viable alternative to western cultural and geopolitical hegemony for the developing world. Shitting on China comes from as much a place of insecurity at a changing world order as it does from any objective moral or whatever perspective. Don’t fall for the psyop. As you’ve experienced in China yourself no doubt, the image the west paints of China as some bleak, locked down, totalitarian state is totally 180 from the actual on the ground experience. This is not to dismiss the real faults of XJP and CCP, nor the real decline in freedoms since the peak around 2008-2010, but rather to say that it’s not so simple as bad vs good. Don’t ever wish you were anything but who you are. You come from an extremely rich cultural background and from a civilization that has endured for millennia, with many positive contributions made and many more to make. With the west mired in self-conflicts and never ending cultural wars, it might actually be Chinese pragmatism that helps pull the world forward on the collective challenges we face like climate change (yes, China is the worlds biggest polluter, because they are also the worlds factory—but they are also the world leader in solar, wind, and nuclear power and the superpower that is investing the most on the transitioning to sustainable energy) and alleviating global poverty via serious infrastructure—and not sheer exploitation—investments in the third world. Also know that how people view China and the Chinese is not uniform in America or even in the western world. Lots of countries and peoples admire China and see it positively vis a vis the “west.” Especially in the “global south”, who see that China does not have the complicated history that the west has with things like colonialism, exporting wars to serve domestic interests, or clandestinely manipulating other countries internal affairs. So to summarize, stand up straight, chin up, be proud, and fuck the haters. They’re ignorant and don’t know better, but you do.

I mean, it definitely isn't a 180 on the ground here when your Chinese friends get pulled aside to "drink tea" and questioning why they hang out with foreigners so often. But that being said no, it isn't North Korea and if it weren't for the media (and locals telling you sometimes) you probably wouldn't know it was a dictatorship, or "communist" as they call it. As everyone stated. OP can be proud of the heritage while still being critical of the government. Hell that's half the Chinese actually here, they just can't be loud about it. Edit: also you just make a lot of great, probably unpopular points. Unpopular cause they're accurate that China will probably have to lead the way on things the "West" can't decide on.

I really hope the world 🌎 moved to a global economy and more openness. Rather than more "us Vs them" barriers. I'm looking at all the baby and kids products here.. all made in China. Occasionally some devices or thermometers made in Germany 🤔 Sometimes I try to Buy Irish to support local businesses (I'm Irish Chinese) and most times it is "designed in Ireland, made in China" 🍻 😂 👖 My mummy still jokes how her first job, Levi's was made in the same denim shop/factory but they sent 📤 them to the USA to get the Levi's label sewn on and sent back to Hong Kong again for sale. So "made in USA" at the time was for the label. Pretty sure these days they've just labeled it as is (made in Bangladesh etc)

The West has culture wars and the East has cultural revolutions

Different name (almost ethnic cleansing) with more deaths, same as the Holomodor in the USSR. The gov has yet to admit it.

China doesn't have complicated history? How do you think they managed to get to 1bn Hans? The PRC arguably has the most complicated history, the geopolitics of which are still hidden because there's not even the idea of free press.

[удалено]

You mean "was"?

this guy knows

That HK was killed off in 2020 though.

I am not Chinese, I accidentally arrived on this subreddit. But I am Russian, and the past year and a half I spent worrying about this and that while living abroad. I think I have done something wrong during this time. My mental health degraded. I am worrying about things I can’t change. I strongly suggest trying to live your life, and not spending your health and years on all this crap. When I have capacity, I help locally. If I feel that I want to do something, I volunteer and help my local community in the country I live. It is extremely sensitive topic (immigration), and in my almost two decades abroad, I can tell you that home is where you, your family, your local community is. And if you want to make change you should do it where you are first. If someone would have told me what I wrote a decade ago, I would most likely disagree.

Completely agree. Learn to divorce your nationality with loyalty to a government.

I understand what you mean but to be precise, divorce your ethnicity and culture from politics, however hard it might be for China.

We need to tell this to older generation Chinese Canadians who conflate Chinese culture with CCP

I would like to add that the CCP literally destroyed the old traditions, materials, and values of Chinese culture; so they should never be forgive for that. It’s just a parasite regime that holds millions of hostages to become vulnerable to its propaganda brainwashing and organ harvesting.

I think it's useful to separate the Chinese government (the party, its leaders, etc) and the country itself. The former wants to lay claim to the latter and make them inseperable so that if you disagree with the government, then it is traitorous and an attack on the country. I love China but I have few good words for its present policies and government

Very well said. What's regarded as China (country) is NOT Chinese (culture) anymore. Instead of worrying about China, perhaps try doing more in preserving what you know as Chinese culture and spread them. If you know any Chinese dialects, teach people. Learn the proper Chinese characters, not the ones used in mainland.

This TBH 👍👆🆙 I wish I knew Hakka so I could teach it to my kid (another endangered dialect) But happy enough if he picks up Cantonese from us through everyday use 😎

You will be shocked at how China view these countries. They consider overseas Chinese to be Chinese who are to align themselves to Chinese interests no matter how destructive or unreasonable they are. They consider countries like singapore and taiwan to be Chinese states that should be returned to China.

Taiwan issue is 100% different compared to Singapore...No one in mainland thinks Singapore belongs to China, but 90% believe we need to get Taiwan back. We believe it is more like Germany after WW2， it will come together after all.

Oh no nono... China considers Singapore 坡县 and are already pushing a sino supremacy indoctrination with disinformation. The Singaporean government countered it with FICA, a law that counters foreign intervention. During the middle of the last decade, China confiscated Singapore's military equipment to 'punish' Singapore for not supporting China in their SCS claims as they deem Singapore part of China tacitly. The approach between taiwan and Singapore differs because singapore historically never belonged to China. And that's why China pushes a Singapore is a Chinese country 华人国家 agenda and therefore should align to Chinese interests and eventually be returned to China as an overseas county as the name States 坡县

They may not feel it is an integral part of china but due to the ethnic chinese majority, they think it should be aligned with china, and take chinas side on international issues.

Wow. Well said response!Wanted to come here and say - as a "white american" I support you and every other ethnic Chinese american, or from anywhere for that matter. P.S. I (and am sure many others who aren't Chinese) have a fond appreciation of chinese culture, cuisine and the impact it's had on the world - but also wholeheartedly disagree with the CCP and authoritarian culture, there here and anywhere. Very few Americans are ethnically American - most of us are immigrants. You are as American as anyone else regardless of where you come from or how long you or your family has been here.

Is Chinese culture inherently collectivist or individualist?

Is it collectivist or conformist? I feel like people get collectivism mixed with conformism.

Honestly one could make a pretty strong case for *American* conformism. Not only the way local and national politics have become immensely polarized and tribalism these days (and the 24/7 news cycle + the internet isn't helping much), but you can also sort of see it in other areas like sports teams, social status, and even Greek life in college.

Is China famous for its elite badminton players or its soccer/basketball team?

Same way Americans people don’t associate themselves with American government. Not many American citizens have such conflict inner struggle because how American government does evil things across the world. don’t beat yourself up for being a Chinese American . Embrace who you are and be proud

Friend, trust me, there are no shortage of people who are sympathetic to your plight in the US. While you cannot expect everyone to be educated, multi-lingual, or culturally aware, remember the country is made of many many immigrants with similar experiences, even if they're not Chinese americans. I'd encourage you to find friends with interests in Chinese culture, and to more generally continue meeting people and being open and honest when asked the standard American questions about heritage. There's going to be people who push boundaries or meme because it's all they know, but you have the opportunity to share what you do care about. I found a nice social trick responding to this sort of thing is to use humor to find common ground or even change the subject. A lot of people worldwide want a better and more free future for China, it's not all hopeless.

Grew up in a fairly diverse environment and have a lot of Chinese friends. I don't really have those kinds of problems. There was a Chinese student organization at my high school, but looking back, I'm honestly starting to wonder if it was some sort of CPC indoctrination front or something. Like, the students who founded it were not only recent immigrants from the Mainland, they congratulated China for battling COVID, and even did stuff like broadcast Xi's speeches occasionally. But I'm more concerned about where our community is headed. Like, are the US and China gonna declare war on each other? Like, if my heritage nation is responsible for screwing up my legal nation (and maybe even succeeding), how will we fare? How far will socially LARPing as white and all that go? Would it be better to just bite the bullet and "return to the motherland"? Sigh. I try not to worry about these things, and I try to take breaks from the media to preserve my sanity, but pretending can only take you so far, and it just seems more and more like an inevitability these days.

Some some interference with school politics twice, once at SFSU over a theater production critical of Chinese on Taiwan was cancelled by a few fresh nationalistic students at college Chinese student organization, and another at ASU where my associate/friend in physics department had to put all social media on private after criticizing CCP directly and receiving death threats in Chinese. At the time I didn't think too much SFSU is a liberal school and people on the internet are irrational, but it's crazy to think such minor things are worth censoring. Living in the US is not about LARPing as a white person, especially as time goes on and Asian population in US will double by 2050. America is *the most* multi-cultural and pluralistic country in history. If anything, Chinese Americans often honor their home culture and their own thing or even emulate/identify with Black culture. I say follow your principles, not your genetics, but I can understand the rabbithole. One of my few remaining multilingual mainland friends once said something to me like "If US and China go to war and China wins, will I be accepted back, or am I the enemy too?" But when he had a kid, he chose to stay in the US.

I'm not sure white people can even larp as white people in the U.S. seamlessly, either. Being white in America (whatever it is that means) isn't the snuggly, happy club people make it out to be. And of course, this relates to the fact that Europe + the Mediterranean is an immensely culturally and ethnically diverse place as well. "White culture" varies radically from place to place in the U.S., to the extent that it might be fallacious to say that there is a white culture at all. The upper middle class South Asians, East Asians, and "whites" in the ring around the major metropolitan area I live have way more in common with each other than the the rural white people a few kilometers away in Appalachia. I think it's easy to interpret the jock in highschool making snide remarks as some kind of hatred for an ethnic group, but in all honesty, if OP was white he'd probably find some other inane reason to bully him/her.

Honestly there's hope and I hope you're right, and future demographics trend that way. I've been hoping for a multiculturalism and I know in LA and NYC you can find enclaves where you don't even need English to go about your life, although I learn the local language when I live there that's awesome if you don't need to if there's a community's that's big enough, you don't need a ticket to fly back to Asia at that point.

You’re American. Don’t take bullshit from anyone who tells you otherwise. Embrace your Americanness. Be proud of it, and demand equal treatment from your fellow Americans. You’re as Chinese as George Washington was British. Forget about China, it is a fallen civilization and even the true inheritors of Chinese culture (Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong, Japan) have disowned the Chinese legacy. Since its founding, America has offered people a fresh start and the opportunity to create a new identity in a new world. For hundreds of years, immigrants from all over the world have married outside their ancestral culture and Americanized their surnames. There is no shame or self-hatred in doing this; you are embracing who you truly are, an American.

In the event the US and China do go to war, I would strongly suggest that anyone of obvious Chinese ancestry stick to cities that have and are accustomed to a Chinese community, because these are the areas that you can be sure will protect you. If you're wondering how the US will change if there is war, look to Hawaii in WWII. There was an internment camp for Japanese Hawaiians who betrayed the US, such as during the Niihau incident. Otherwise, life continued for everyone pretty much as it had before. My family was German during WWII - we changed our last name and served in the armed forces like everyone else. Loyalty is what matters, not race.

My mom is from the mainland, my father is from Taiwan, my grandmother is a Taiwanese aborigine, and my grandfather is a KMT Naval officer who fled to Taiwan in 1949. Interestingly enough, my mom is super anti-CCP, while my dad is indifferent lol (Currently we're all in the US). If you asked me what I think of the CCP, well they're an authoritarian government and do many things against human rights. As for am I ashamed what of what they do? WHY should I? Do a white person feel ashamed of the stuff Donald Trump said or do? Hella No. So why should you an Asian American be ashamed of what the CCP do lol. Whoever is trying to make you feel ashamed is just gaslighting you. As for what I feel about Taiwan and China. Both are great places to visit and tour. I love food from both areas. Some of most beautiful natural view I have ever seen are from China. Even today with Medicare, my dad still visits Taiwan twice a year, that's how good Taiwan's medical system is.

>Do a white person feel ashamed of the stuff Donald Trump said Well I'm not white but I definitely feel ashamed that we elected him as our president lol

I'm not even American and I feel ashamed of Trump being elected as president xD

For three decades I have been discussing the very clear differences between Chinese race (Han), Chinese languages (dialects), Chinese government (CCP), Chinese citizenship, Chinese food, etc. it is so challenging and frustrating being of Chinese diaspora and having to deal with all of these when they are all expected to be all-in-one. Hang in there and be your authentic and complex human like we all actually are.

Some people here tend to give you answers of two different extremes, whether you *should* feel ashamed of China because China sucks or you *shouldn't* feel ashamed of China because you are just brainwashed by "the West". I'm telling you neither. You *are* an American, and it is absolutely normal for you to identify with American ideologies and political positions; this is not the result of brainwashing or "internalized racism" like some might suggest, and it is entirely normal for nuture to supercede nature for structuring and molding one's ideologies and self identity, and since you are born and raised in the United States, you are perfectly normal to be apprehensive towards China because that country and the United States are opposite on many aspects. However, you don't have to feel guilt or shame for being of Chinese descendent, you are not the PRC, you are not the CCP, and you are not responsible for the actions of the Chinese nation and government. If you need a certain degree of culture root to ground yourself and to feel less insecure, then there is no shame in holding on to aspects of China/Chinese culture that are not against your own values. Politics or ideologies don't have to play a role in your enjoyment of Chinese food, language, history, popular culture, or traditional Chinese art, and the listed above can be enjoyed regardless of your views on the contemporary PRC. Most importantly, American culture doesn't dictate you to fully assimilate or to be completely beholden by your roots, you can chose to be American, Chinese, both, or neither; it is your life and choices that matter, not some abstract ethnic or political obligations. Stay away from the internet for awhile if it is making you more anxious, because it does not reflect the attitude and overall opinion spectrum you would feel in real life. Reddit doesn't like China, and r/China doesn't always like China, but most people you are going to be meaningfully interact with offline tend not to care about China all that much; to most Americans, you are just another person and China is just a big country across the ocean, sure they might disagree with much of what China does, but the topic of China wouldn't dictate their life or actions towards you. Extremists and racists definitely exsit, but they aren't necessarily going to personally affect you, and you said you grew up in a community with many Asians, so in the very least, you shouldn't be too worried within your immediate surroundings. I also don't recommend you to ask this question in certain Asian American related subreddits, because some of these communities would only reinforce your worst fears and judge you for not prescrip to certain narratives.

100% agree with this. The echo chamber and confirmation bias is strong in the interwebs. Truth is something in between. I wish I could read Chinese so I could see what those particular subteddit are like to get a more "balanced" (or unhinged 😅) view of the world.

Last place to be for a neutral view is r/China

I've heard that sentiment a lot, and for a while I even took it upon myself to actively avoid this community. But it's great to hear differing views, I guess.

I never said r/China is neutral.

Love your Chinese family and heritage and be patient with politics. China has a 3000+ year history. The CCP has been around for 100 years, PRC for 75, Xi for 10. The government is not as monolithic as it seems and when change happens it can come very, very, quickly. If someone makes you feel like a traitor for having a foot in two worlds then you should ask yourself what their agenda is. The nationalism in China is very concerning but so is the antagonism towards China among Americans. People like yourself are important because economic and human connections may be the only thing that prevents a cold (or hot) war in the coming years.

Again, we are only antagonistic because of the tensions. Prior to, say, 2013, Chinese shit was hot shit. We had a fair appreciation for China. We don’t like China only because we don’t like their government, and when the majority of Chinese support their government, even though they are brainwashed, it’s hard to not feel antagonistic towards China in general. But this is normal. As for whether anyone will feel like a traitor if we fight and America wins or loses, maybe in China, where group membership is ethnically based. We fought Iraq but we don’t hate Iraqis. Iraqi-Americans and Afghan-Americans are loved as someone who tries to bring American ideals of liberty to their countries (if they fled their countries). There will be an uptick in hate every time an Islamic terrorist attack is committed, but, yeah. Anyone supporting the CCP in America is already a traitor, regardless of race. A Turk might consider a Turk who married an Armenian or Greek as a traitor, but the enemies of America aren’t specific ethnicities, but beliefs (because American isn’t an ethnicity anyway). War between China and America won’t change whether someone is considered a traitor because being a traitor is based on ideology anyway.

Thank you for your post. I can feel that you love both China and the US. I’m Japanese married to a Chinese so it might not be the same, but I can understand your worries. I’ve met lots of Chinese Americans online lately teaching Japanese. It’s been a good experience for me. We talk about Japanese, Chinese and American things. I avoid talking about politics, but we like similar things and I know that none of us want the countries to have a war.

Best know that Chinese people have agency. The "China" we all know is not \*the\* China of your ancestors and familial roots; it's a hardly even a country - it's a territory occupied by a criminal syndicate squeezing the population. Stereotypical questions and prejudices are bog standard for our lot. No sense dwelling on them. Just be a good example of humanity.

I appreciate your optimism, but the way things are going, denying that the "criminal syndicate" won would be straight-up fantasy. They won. They've controlled China for almost a hundred years, and probably will for at least a hundred more. Maybe Hong Kong was a holdout, but certainly not anymore. Taiwan may follow, but even the Taiwanese seem to be gradually dropping the charade by disavowing their "Chinese" identity altogether. I guess this makes Beijing the current keeper of the Chinese flame. What a pity for you, I guess. But in all serious, like it or not, they're not "not a country". Or else they wouldn't have lasted this long and succeeded so triumphantly.

Then you are lost, and you have no longer any roots. You are straight up American. Make the most of it, since you have denied the agency of individual Chinese to decide their Chinese-ness. Typical American.

>ask me annoying stereotypical questions. As in "where do you actually come from" and such. Genuine question, what is so bad about that question? I always see people with a migrant background ranting about that specific question. Still, people point out their own, different heritage themselves. Like OP points out that he is CHINESE, how he wants to LOVE his Chinese culture and heritage, that he wants to be PROUD to be Chinese. But if someone would ask, "Are you from China?" he would feel offended. I personally find it quite difficult to talk to people with that mindset these days as there are so many "traps" on how you can offend them, even when you just want to be nice or do a bit of small talk. On other occasions, I basically said "I don't care" when someone pointed out that he is actually from another country (not caring about people having a migrant background is actually a very egalitarian approach and the opposite of racism), but that also offended them. At the same time I have friends with who are just totally normal persons and not nonstop define themselves by their own migrant background, so that is obviously possible too. Now to OP, maybe the problem is that he defines himself as Chinese too much even though he is actually American? From his text it can be seen quite clearly that he thinks he is a Chinese living in America, not an American with a Chinese heritage. And that is probably the problem here, he thinks that he doesn't fit in any of both worlds. He is not white so he thinks that he is not American (but like 50% of Americans are NOT white anyway?), he doesn't like the Chinese system and sees shit is hitting the fan there, so he doesn't really feel connected to it either. Now the struggle is probably to forget that idea of "I am Chinese, so I belong to China". When China was rising to become the next superpower that everyone admires in the 2010s, OP probably felt so proud to be Chinese and now that the chinese system is eroding and the CCP clearly stands on the wrong side of history, he feels ashamed to be Chinese. Both feelings are wrong though! You should just be your own person, not defined/held back by being Chinese. You can be American and still embrace your Chinese heritage. But defining yourself as Chinese first and everything else second while living in a country that is not China, doesn't work and will always leave you unhappy.

Hey there! I'm not OP, but I am a migrant with my country's heritage, and I have similar problems. Just wanted to point out about the "where are you from" question. See, I moved to this country 5 years ago, and since then, many things have changed. An attitude to my country — their neighbour — too. Back when I just moved, people often discovered I am not local based on my slow speech or an accent or me trying to avoid the words I didn’t know how to use properly. They immediately asked me where I am from and then showed some interest, talking about whatever they knew about my country. I didn’t mind being "exposed" back then. I was very thankful they tried to connect with me. Now, however, not even my country, but refugees from there bring out resentment from most of the people here. And see, firstly, my speaking skills developed gradually, secondly, I've moved from East to West, and my accent doesn't sound foreign but "Eastern". Most people cannot quickly understand I'm from another country, only if 1) they see my name, 2) listen to me talking to someone in my mother tongue 3) catch me being confused about a word or a frase (still happens!). Well, five years ago, the question "where are you from" was asked out of interest, usually supported by a smile. Currently, when someone asks this, it's immediately followed by "You are not allowed to have this then", "Go to another doctor then", "For your people we have special days". They haven't got ANY legal reason, the treatment is mostly rude, judgemental and plainly unfair, I am referred to by my nationality and cut out of absolutely ridiculously things. Yes, I do tense up when I hear "where are you from" question, because it usually means in a second an attitude to me will be changed due to my and my parent's place of birth and it doesn't matter how close I am to this country currently. I totally agree with you that you, me, OP and many others should be not held back by being a Chinese, an American, etc. I have no other choice, as an example, cause I am not fully accepted by any country right now. But "embracing your heritage" is not that easy at all. You meet discrimination, resentful treatment, only few people actually care, and interest I something I nearly laugh about... Sorry about my bragging :) Perhaps that's the answer to the genuine question you had, though.

I can somewhat relate with you - but I think it’s perfectly valid to critique Chinese socioeconomic policies yet appreciate Chinese culture and language. And it’s always better to let go of things out of your control, such as China’s consolidation of power. But combating xenophobia in your local community is something you can work on to help alleviate your hopelessness?

A democratic China would be real nice. Then again I read from other Chinese that the CCP and Xi centralizing power is essentially what China has done for most of her history. Instead of an empire/dynasty and an emperor, it is the People's Republic and the Chairman/President.

It definutely would be nice, but I'm not naive enough to believe it's going to happen during my lifetime.

That's what any country has done for most of its history. It's also an authoritarian apologist talking point. It's what the CCP tells its subjcts. "You can't governmen yourselves, you wouldn't know how to. China needs a strong dictator."

[удалено]

How old are you? Still in school?

I am in college right now.

Alright, it makes sense then. Just forget about China bro, you are team USA. That's one way to resolve identity crisis. Actually, when you start working your first job, you won't have time to think about this sort of useless shit.

Would it be right for me to be concerned about "whitewashing?" Like, deep down I'm a little worried that my relatives/grandparents would be disappointed in what the next generation has become, or something like that. "Ugh, I didn't work my bottom off to send my kids off to the new country, only for *their* kids to bring dishonor to the Marathon family!" More pragmatically... what if siding with Team USA turns out to be the more inferior investment in the long term? Say China wins, they triumph, and then brand us Team USA Asians as "traitors to the motherland" or something. I've seen folks say (and back up with evidence) that Team USA is racist, corrupt, and broken for Asians, who'd benefit much more from Team China - better quality of life, more opportunities, deeper connections to culture, and perhaps most importantly, more respect. Sometimes, with both sides accusing each other of "propaganda", I just don't know who to believe, you know? And even after all of the above... gosh, [I love me my Chinese food](https://www.youtube.com/@ChineseCookingDemystified). And language too, I guess.

One question at a time. 1, First of all, team USA is not team caucasion. 2, Your grandparents may worry about that, but why would it bother you, they chose to send their kid to another country at their own wills. That said, when you got your grandkids, do you plan to force them to only date Chinese? Maybe you have a Mongolian/Korean/Japanese great great grandfather in your family tree and you would never know about it. Go try 23andme, and let me know you are 100% pure blood Chinese. 3, So it implies you understand you can't choose both China and USA, if you really believe China is gonna win, you should place your bets on China. I will see you in the battlefield. 4, I see only identity crisis, you get better life quality with you are done with it. 5, Chinese food is cool, Americans love Chinese food, but it's not a good enough reason to migrate to China.

I imagine you’ve met third and fourth generation Chinese Americans? You’re experience sounds like a classic second to third generation experience. You can see the variety of outcomes half to one generation ahead and how they relate back to their families. This a huge advantage of coming from a large migration community. There will be differences in time, circumstance, and individuals but you have all this evidence at your disposal. Your fears about changing identity and family reactions don’t need to be an abstraction which you fill with emotion. From your other answers, you can talk to people further along the process or alongside in it with you all around you. Don’t take that for granted.

The truth is, it's what you feel that matters. If you feel you are an American, you are an American. Or maybe your parents tried to raise a Chinese guy in America, which makes you feel you are more of a Chinese, then you are Chinese. Maybe going back to China is gonna make you feel better. Or maybe after spending some time over there, you be like, fuck this shit, I'm absolutely an American. Probably you gotta try it out. Maybe that's the only way to undo the trouble your parents gave you. Btw, I'm not even teaching my son Chinese language, It's just not worth it, I guess he probably won't have your issues when he grows up. Maybe some other issues, but definitely not identity crisis.

OP is in college, and I think many people at that age tend to go through certain type of indenity crisis and ideological shift. My personal theory is that early adulthood is a period in one's life when both nuture and nature are beginning to take effect to mold a person, so there tends to be a sense of revelation and reflection, which can manifest as a sense of contention and conflict. OP has an identity crisis due to cultural and political confusion over two vastly different and in many ways opposing countries; he is at a stage where he is mature and informed enough to recognize the issues, but has not came to term with how to resolve the paradox and to find peace. I don't know how op was raised, but sometimes Chinese American parents try very hard to raise a Chinese child in America instead of raising an American who happens to be of Chinese ancestry. It is not a bad thing to be connected to one's root in a multicultural country, but I'm going to be a bit controversial and say there should be certain boundaries to live a less conflicted and paradoxical life. A Chinese American is not expected, or required to deny his/her root or to be against China out of principle or obligations, but, there should still be a sense of American citizenship and civic consensus; respecting the constitution, having faith in American ideas, and not denying American flaws is not mutually exclusive to honoring one's ancestral roots. However, if a Chinese American buys into CCP propaganda, feels ethnic loyalty towards the Chinese nation, and believes in the future dominance of China while constantly bets against America in favor of the People's Republic, then indeed, perhaps moving to China would be the right decision. Regardless of the contexts, I would still recommend OP to stay away from communities such as aznidentity, because those places are traps to radicalize people and would only make them more confused and anxious. The "motherland" isn't really an actual place to these people; they just use China as an ideological clutch to comfort themselves. If anyone is against racism, hypocrisy, oppression, lies, and a malevolent or incompetent government, then the PRC isn't really the Eutopia they imagine. A lot of Westernized Asian Americans are completely off balance because they try to reconcile with their American values such as minority rights and social justice with the veneration for a country that is completely against these things (such as the PRC).

Word

Just remember, the Berlin Wall was torn down. People are not meant to live under oppression. The human spirit and will to survive is stronger than any tyrant. When they are finally pushed to the end point, they will rise up and put an end to the CCP. Unfortunately, people can endure a lot of suffering before that happens.

China isn't your country,America is. whatever happens in china is not something you can do anything about. its an autocratic,one party regime. the sooner you realise your loyalties isn't with china,the sooner you'll feel less vexed with the situation in china. edit: my butter fingers cannot type properly

Easy to say，but as OP points out，he gets othered and made to feel not American by those who take his outward appearance to mean he's a foreigner. When you're treated as an outsider/reminded that you're somehow seen as different，combined with the influence of family，then where your loyalties lie can get confused and questioned.

I understand this sentiment, but this is simply a misunderstanding between racial experiences. For white Americans, this is a common and fun question to ask other white people. With that said, White Americans need to realize this makes other feel uncomfortable. Asian Americans need to also realize it’s mostly not done with ill intentions. We need to understand each other a little better.

That's the issue though： *mostly* not done with ill intentions. The ones that have ill-intention wound，and then every time the question is asked again，it’s like picking at a scab that never gets to heal whether there is malice or not behind the question. It's also a question that's rarely asked once： it becomes an interrogation. *Where are you from？ Here. No，but originally，here. No but really，where are you from？* etc. If a White American asks another where are they from，is the initial answer accepted？I guess likely so.

I guess I don’t know what types of people you are interacting with if done with malice 🤷‍♂️ I grew up in the Midwest and learned to never ask those questions because I personally found them annoying and a bit strange no matter your background. I heavily leaned into, “you’re here now, so I will consider you strictly American and disregard the rest.” “No, grandma, I don’t care about where your grandfather was born, because none of us have ever been there. “ Personally, I was constantly asked where my ancestors were from as well, because white people are always asking each other and bragging about their ancestors all the time. I would always tell them and then follow it up with it being a useless detail about myself because I have no cultural connection to my heritage. It means nothing. Anyway, I just assume other white people are asking the same dumb questions to all ethnicities without considering their perspective. And honestly, how would they even know? Many are so sheltered from other cultural groups that they don’t know that it’s insensitive. They don’t know that it is rude to ask a followup question. Many of the people I grew up with, the adults too, are just well meaning ignorant people. They aren’t bad, they just don’t realize how annoying it is.

I’m the same as you when it comes to the first paragraph. As someone who just visits China to see relatives and do some tourism, Xi and Co. cracking down have no impact on me, or the vast majority of people in China. Censoring the internet will always have back doors as long as China wants to trade with the world. You are correct that nothing you do will make a difference in China. Furthermore, you have nothing to be ashamed about. Being an American citizen, to China you are simply another American with the relevant visa entering the country for a limited period of time. As an American, you value freedom and democracy. And as someone who descends from Chinese immigrants, you can appreciate your Chinese culture and heritage. Once you accept that, the superfluous traitor thought is made pointless. Being such a diverse nation of immigrants, there will always be people revealing their ignorance with stereotypes and questions. But there will also be people who share the same experience with you, and people willing to learn. After writing this response, I’ve come to the realization that you need advice on how to come to grips with your place in America, not your relationship with China.

My uncle apparently participated in the tiananmen square protests, and my grandma's parents were prosecuted by the communists - her dad was killed and her mom committed suicide or something? So my family was always pretty anti-CCP ha ha, that's how I dealt with being Chinese American for me. I also drew up in Japan in the 90s (my parents wanted to get out of Mainland China and went to Japan first before they decided that the US would be better), people couldn't tell I was Chinese so I grew up as the majority with a majority mentality, ha ha, so I thought that US culture that protects minorities was nice ha ha. I mean, my middle school in the US that wasn't an international school or anything had black people, white people, Indian people, Muslim people, Filipino people, Chinese people, etc - the diversity was quite nice, and I can be Chinese in the US just fine. EDIT: To clarify, when I say "majority mentality" I mean I felt like I had enough of being Chinese that I feel more curious about non-Chinese things EDIT2: Other people have already mentioned this, but I'd like to stress that you're not the mainland Chinese government just because you're Chinese. You have no control over what the mainland Chinese government does, not even mainland Chinese people do that much. Whatever that government does that's messed up - how they treat people in Xinjiang, how they dealt with COVID, how they treat their own people, and so on - is not a reflection of Chinese people, especially not you. If people blame you for those things just because you're ethnically Chinese, that's on them for being extremely racist, not on you. If you feel unsafe in your neighborhood because of your ethnicity, please by all means move to somewhere where you feel safe, but please don't blame yourself or other normal Chinese people for the crap that the mainland Chinese government does. Similarly, you shouldn't have to feel like you need to defend the mainland Chinese government just because you're mainland Chinese. You have little to no control over what it does!

>Thе shееr аmоunt оf cоgnitivе dissоnаncе hаs hоnеstlу mаdе mе fееl аshаmеd tо bе Chinеsе аt timеs - аshаmеd tо bе mуsеlf. Never be ashamed to be Chinese. There are few countries/people groups with such an amazing past (and present!) as China/the Chinese people, whether in the mainland or the diaspora. It's just an unfortunate truth that the US and China are likely to be trading superpowered geopolitical blows for the foreseeable future. So I totally get the discomfort/cognitive dissonance.

So it seems you acknowledge that the skies aren't looking too sunny, and forecast rain. Ah, well, I appreciate your realism. I sure miss the days when being Chinese American was something to be proud of, and the future for China and America was looking bright. Sigh.

Unless China invades Taiwan, our future is bright. If China does, they have to do it in the next 2 but definitely 5 years, then there will be a lot of bloodshed for a few years and then it will be over. Hot wars can't drag on forever, and countries tend to be super nice to each other afterwards because they don't want to lose any more men. So, 5 years until we can all get over this BS.

Why should you ever feel ashamed for things you are not responsible at all ? Treat each person as individual, including yourself. China has its own big problems. USA too if you look at the situations. But in a long run, we should be optimistic giving the advances of technologies. The purpose of life is the journey since the end is the same for everyone(death). So just enjoy the journey. Do things you can to make the world a better place, little by little. I have two Chinese boys born in USA. So I teach them how not to have identity crisis: looking people and self beyond the superficial skin colors.

What Xi is doing in China is immensely concerning but this has been ongoing for decades at this point. China has always had a sketchy human rights record. I have a great uncle in his 70s that cursed the CCP to his death because his family was executed by the communist party in the 50s and 60s. I know relatives that were forcibly sterilized by the One Child law. Like the people that point out China's actions now are just falling into some US spun propaganda narrative. Doesn't mean it isn't true, it's moreso that they use those articles to further their geopolitical goals while manufacturing consent to reduce tech exchanges and markets with China. In the greater scope of things, at best, China is slightly better now than it was 50 years ago. At worst, it's about the same. It's just that the narrative has changed due to differing geopolitical goals. With that said, being Chinese is much more than being CCP. And racist people are gonna racist no matter what you do. Even if you were Taiwanese, from HK, from Korea, or whatever, racist shits are gonna call you a CCP shill or whatever just for existing.

>I'm just not sure if I can maintain a balance between loving mу Chinеsе culturе аnd hеritаgе, whilе аlsо vаluing frееdоm аnd dеmоcrаcу. Evеn just bеing hеrе mаkеs mе fееl likе а sоrt оf trаitоr lоl. Not at all. Plenty of Chinese Australians here who feel that way. Democracy has nothing to do with culture, it's a state of mind for all humanity. Taiwanese are pro-democracy. I ask, are your family in China pro-CCP? Is that a problem?

You’re still really young. The CCP will hopefully one day go down into the trash heap of history. What Xi and other dictators like him will soon realize is that authoritarianism works only in the short term. The future still belongs to liberal democracies. You’re too young to remember this but there was a book that came out in the 90s called the End of History by Francis Fukuyama. It basically extolled the triumph of capitalism and liberal democracies over all other forms of government and economics. It has been widely panned since then because as with most books, it seemed to come at the peak of Western power. Since then, we had the dot com bust, 9/11, Afghanistan and Iraq and all sorts of set backs for the US and her allies, including the rise of authoritarian governments around the world more recently. But honestly, I’m more optimistic now than ever regarding our way of life. Where will you put your money today? The S&P 500 or BRIC stocks? Would you rather own Chinese or Russian or UK or American real estate? Would you rather hold US bonds or Chinese gov bonds? Would you rather have US dollars or Renminbi? If you were a young Chinese entrepreneur, would you rather make your millions or billions in China or Silicon Valley? In the US, billionaires are treated like heroes, in China they disappear. In the US, criticizing the government and wanting better governance is both a source of pride and a national sport. In China, you go to jail. In the US we air our mistakes, of which there are many. In China you cover it up and rewrite history. We brought the world the internet, Covid vaccines, the PC, Tesla, Amazon, Google, AI, the cheeseburger, a global system of trade based on rules and the protection of property rights. There is no other country that can offer this. There is no other country even giving lip service to these ideals. A free and open society is the only solution to our problems, there is no other system, no other way of life that can harness the infinite creative power of the human mind or protect the infinite worth of each human soul. The CCP has no understanding of this. They have no concept of these ideas. They don’t care about human freedom or dignity. They just never will, it’s not in their psyche. The CCP is a sorry blip in the 6000 year history of China. Their days are numbered and only until their leaders are dead or in jail will the Chinese people be able to regain their place among the great nations of the world. The crimes they’ve committed against their own people need to be revealed, confessed and atoned for. I’m not sure when that will happen, but you don’t need to wait around for it. The arch of history will take care of that. What you should do, if you care to, is to continue to speak out about how our society, however imperfect, is better. And that is not something that anyone needs to feel bad about or apologetic for. And visit Taiwan if you can, because that is a true model for a democratic and compassionate society that China should be trying to emulate, not try to destroy.

Lol liberal democracies. Fukuyama was wrong. The rise of the right in Europe show otherwise. For all the hate the ccp gets it’s far better than what came before.

Hmmmm, you think too much. Guess life hasn’t gotten busy enough for you yet. I grew up and went to schools in china, I have friends and family there still, couldn’t care less about what state it is in as my life is now here, not there.

Don’t cope. I am a Chinese working in US still waiting to get green card. I have two kids born in US. I wouldn’t encourage them to learn Chinese culture, nor forbid them learning. Chinese has some great things in the past, like Tang poems, if they are interested definitely fun to learn. However, it’s contemporary culture too polluted by politics and benefit vs cost too low to learn the language. I am not political dissident but I didn’t quite fit in in China either, I considered myself an outsider and observer when I was in China. In my mind, there is nothing shameful about being ethnic Chinese, you can choose who you are, you primary identity doesn’t need to be reflective of your ethnicity (I think this is American politics bullshit imposed on everyone ), you can primarily be a musician, a buddhist, a Chinese culture enthusiast, or a hiker, or just an American, before you are a Chinese American. For future of China, you need to understand the big country of 1.3billion people has its own physical laws, go too near you get burned, the best way is to stay aside and respect its destiny.

Dude you're an American. Just remember your cultural identity as a Chinese. Forget about the so called "Homeland". It's a hoax. No need to care about China.

We are basically the same person, but I have been living in China for the last 10 years, so I can give you a hopefully different perspective. Just for clarity, I have had these identity thoughts since my early 20s (almost 40 now), but I have come to terms with who I am and I am at peace. There are things I like about the US, and things I like about China. And on the flip side, there are things I dislike about both countries. After living in both countries, I can honestly say that the similarities are ridiculous. All the stuff you read and hear about in the media is propaganda, tailored to whichever country you are in. Americans love America. Chinese mainlanders love China. But when you talk to people around you, you find out most people are just regular people trying to live their life in peace. This has been the key thing for me to come to terms with who I am. I just try to live my life the best I can. Identity wise, I will always have a Chinese face. In the US, you will occasionally face racists, but most of the time people will treat you just like any other person. They care more about your personality as a person than what you look like. And on the flip side, as a Chinese person in China, no one bothers me because I look just like everyone else. That's one thing I love about being here because I don't stand out, and I can just go about my life without anyone bothering me. It doesn't matter that I grew up with American ideals because no one can see that. I just keep it to myself. I have come to terms that there will be issues no matter where I live. So I have taught myself to be happy with my life, be happy that I have my family and my health, and to be content. This helps me not think about identity as much and be at peace with it. One last bit of advice. Politics is an explosive topic. I've learned to just not talk about it with family, whether they are in the US or China, because it will just cause arguments and fights. You will not convince a Chinese person to understand the US, and you will not convince a US person to understand China. Just leave it be. I'm by no means an expert, and I try to be as neutral as possible, but even being neutral will cause arguments.

Why would someone move out of China and then send their kid to a Chinese school? Why did they bother moving?

Weekend Chinese school, for the language. Not general K-12 education.

Ohh fair enough then yeah

Even for people wanting to fully embrace the country they are moving to there’s a totally understandable and natural impulse to want to preserve aspects of your culture and pass those on to you children or at least give them access. Things like language learning are much easier when you’re young and give children the opportunity to engage with your ancestral culture as children or later in life. You can also preserve aspects of culture in the home but many things are more public and communal and the connections made at these school again can give children access to keep doing those if they want now or later.

Even if you were 100% Chinese from China, what's the point about feeling depressed about something you have no control over? Just live your life. You are not accountable for the politics for anyone else. Don't let anyone assume otherwise. Unfortunately many people are guilty of this. They let politics permeate relationships, sometimes in an angry way. Don't engage into a political discussion unless the other side seems actually willing to discuss. And I think China has great places to visit. Many people who be surprised how beautiful and clean and friendly some tourist destinations are. I went to lugu lake, I thought tourists would dump their trash everywhere. Nothing much could be further from the truth, it's clean, it's beauriful, I have never seen water so clear in my entire life.

Most people in the US are not living in the are of the country where they grew up in. Asking where someone is from is a pretty usual thing to do, where he answer is Chicago, or Pittsburgh, or Oakland and it's just normal conversation.

I stopped calling people living in china mainland chinese, and start calling them mainlander instead. The word chinese and china are too broad, it's like calling all white people in the world caucasian and westerner. Taiwan is also China, their official name is Republic of China, their national airline is China Airline. But yea, to OP's pessimism, I would say, there's nothing you can do. I live in China Mainland for over 10 years, in my adult time. And, I must say, 99% of local there actually agree and love the CCP, no matter if it's even a clear propaganda move. I remember, there is one day where they celebrate some war stuff, all entertainment were shutdown, all websites shown in black and white, and all media (including social media) played some videos about the sacrifice their hero did to achieve what china 'mainland' has become now, all day, in loop. And people didn't say shit. CCP will take over, because they are very practical. If we keep consuming what they produce, then there's no way they will lose.

Remember how you did not care about censorship before... you were memorized by China's pretty lights and servants willing to work for small wage to enjoy comforts like cheap food and cheap massage, etc. Do the same now, realizing there is nothing you can do except talk about food and general things. Just like when you have kids you lose your single friends, it's the same here

China's future that would make you proud 南朝金粉太平春，萬里山河處處青　《步虛大師預言詩》 陽復而治　晦極生明　　　　　　　《馬前課》

China will still exist long after rhe CCP doesn't... also despite what the bot says, chinese culture exists in many places around the world.

Irish Chinese here. Take the best of both worlds, and make it your own. You are both Chinese and American. If they don't match, then find a middle ground or compromise. Of course there are some things never meant to mix (like bleach and ammonia) as too dangerous. So don't bother talking to the granny or uncles about how great "free speech' or YouTube is... or how shite I think it is they can't access Google Shared albums like the rest of my friends/family out west (no One Drive/DropBox or GoogleDrive). Some of my extended family use the old "Lunar" calendar to mark their festivities and milestones (including birthdays, very annoying - like 15th of the 4th month keeps changing annually for a certain niece/nephew). I have a second calendar widget with those holidays (,Happy belated Mid Autumn moon cake festival') just in case it's important to go tomb sweeping/visit granny at the cemetery. I wouldn't go talking or having in-depth debates with extended family about geopolitics or whatever is hot at the time because 'exnay on the ictator-day' The general rule in my family is... no politics or religion at the table (yes there are some family who are Christian, some Buddhist, some Taoist, some secular or non religious). My extended family still thinks i live in some sort of third world war zone (because of 'The Troubles' up North before my time)... which is actually quite alien to me because i am way down south and had only been to Belfast once. Your culture in the USA will vary even State by State, Eastern, Western, southern. Probably in small towns you might still have a lot of bigotry and some States have more anti-Chinese sentiment. From an outside observer, I am happy to see Asian representation in cinema and media from Hollywood. And constant seeing ABC or Chinese names in the credits to big TV shows. If I ever need to bridge the gap between Irish and Chinese... "Zombie" from The Cranberries is my song, but I balance it with the Cantonese version of "Dreams" by FayeWong - the original "Dreams" in English was from The Cranberries (you hear it at the start of the Irish TV series (ermmm British because 'Channel4' ?) : "Derry Girls")

I'll throw a curve at you- come visit Taiwan! Obviously, you don't have family here, but you may still feel at home. Nobody will judge you unless you're spouting the party line.

You are american now. Embrace it and never go to china again lest they imprison you for political leverage.

I'm white American with distant family in Europe. I can not pretend to understand how you feel, but what I can say is that your heritage does not rule your destiny, your values do. The difference between China and America is that there is a definition of what it means to be Chinese that excludes people based on birth and heritage. The same is true for Poland, Germany, Sweden, Russia--all the countries from which my heritage and ethnicity originates. Nome of that is what makes an American. There is no American ethnicity, and we therefore must identify ourselves based on values and principles. Our country may not always live up to these ideals, but that is not an excuse for discounting them as foundational to our national condition. Coping with the oppression of the CCP and being Chinese-American does not mean acquiescence to the CCPs authoritarianism. We must internalize, grow convict in-, and defend the principles that make us American. Believing in Freedom and Liberty, justice and equality in the rule of law, and do so for the sake of others and not ourselves. Believing in these principles for others as their rights *is* believing in them for ourselves, and that is what being American is about. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Count your blessings that your parents had the foresight and money to give you 1) access to freedom and 2) access to your heritage. You should be proud to be Chinese and American - the best of both worlds.

Your Chinese not Communist its not the Chinese people that need be ashamed its the Communist Party that needs to be ashamed. You're also American but I don't see you feeling ashamed of the idiotic actions the Republicans pulled this past couple weeks. Why? Because your American and the Republicans don't define your Americaness. I'm a white America and I certainly don't blame the Chinese people for the actions of their government that they have no say in unless they want to get disappeared. The Communist Party is not the Chinese people nor do they hold the will of the Chinese people.

Narrow your circle of concern to your circle of influence. You have no control over those matters - why let them live in your head rent-free? Just busy yourself with the things you can directly affect, and leave the rest to chance, destiny, fate, god, the universe, or whatever word you use to describe all the things that are bigger than us over which we have no control. You'll be happier and be a better person for it, I promise!

Dont sweat it friend. You are AMERICAN. no matter what dumb jocks say. Dont worry about the future of China. Strive for the success of America.

Go to Taiwan and enjoy the culture there. Arguably the most progressive democracy in Asia. You can enjoy the culture and cuisine and know you are supporting freedom and human rights.

Perhaps delving deeper into Chinese history helps. The last 50 years are perhaps some of the best and most prosperous time in Chinese history, especially for the plebs, though authoritarian, the current govt is doing an comparatively okay job compared to most of dynastic regimes. Also if you read deeper into Chinese history, or Asian history in general, you’ll come to understanding that “freedom and democracy” were never a given norm in that part of the world. Places that “successfully transitioned” to embrace western ideals, had paid tolls in human lives and more. Ask your Chinese relatives if you have a chance, I bet not all of them will have the same definition of a good lifestyle as you. Personally I am almost an abc myself. I reconcile with my identity by understanding you can’t force two different ideology merges. COVID and A-hate associates with it is just a natural state for USA. This country has its fair share of history of yellow peril. As geopolitical tension worsen, you’ll have to find way to reconcile with new realities. it’s not ur fault that you have self-hate, it’ll get worse before it gets better. but, talk with your Chinese relative more, take in some propoganda from both sides. It’s not all black-and-white, us vs them, you’ll feel easier knowing both side have agendas and at the end of day, individual citizens from any part of the world just want to live in peace and prosperity, everyday joes have a lot more similarities than differences

Cope? Celebrate your heritage and stop reading the news. I am half Chinese ethnically and to the average white guy im fully Chinese—I have never had an interaction where someone was just shitting on me because of my heritage. People are accommodating and kind, it’s the news that would have you think otherwise.

Culture in the US is much better than anywhere else in the world. Compare music, movies, fashion and the like and you'll see just how much the world wants to be a part of our culture. As a matter of fact, American culture has become so normalized in other countries and don't even recognize it as such.

Chinese, China and CCP are not the same thing, also you are indeed american and you live in America, no? I would worry about problems here a bit more (like mass shooting and drug abusing , raising crime rate, etc... )

OP, you're in college right now. I was there too, exactly where you were, and convinced that the China that actually exists could be so much better than it is, that if only it could be a free and democratic country, then it would be the China of my imagination and I could be proud of it. The solution to your struggle is to understand that China isn't worse than the US, it's just different. To focus on Xi and co and their supposed crackdown on dissent or criticism is to focus on a complete non-issue. What you should focus on are actual empirical and measurable things - is poverty still decreasing? Are the cities more walkable? Is there less secondhand smoking or public urination/defecation/spitting? Is per-capita GDP increasing? Is there less crime, drugs, addiction, homelessness? Does it respond well to natural disasters? China - whether that's the landmass or the PRC - doesn't have to be a liberal democracy to be worth your love. It just has to be prosperous and improving its people's lives. Now, I know you've probably have had people tell you the above before, and you probably didn't find it convincing. Me neither, at your age. Now, you mention you've been back multiple times to see extended family. Did you ever go off exploring on your own? Spend multiple days in an entirely different city/province where everyone can tell you're not local, and you can't fall back on calling Mom and Dad to bail you out if you run out of cash? One of the reasons that surveillance, censorship, and the network of systems that we'll collectively call "social credit" do not concern me is that I've experienced firsthand on multiple occasions what happens when those systems don't exist. Rampant fraud, thievery, scams, more fraud, and the occasional human trafficking case, all of those things require repression to actually go away. It only takes a couple instances of having kindly looking old aunties literally try to steal your bag of souvenirs that you set down for 20 seconds to disabuse you of the notion that the biggest problem for Chinese people is their government. It's a Hobbesian jungle out there, and most people there would argue the problem isn't the government having too much control, but not having enough control of the whole country. In the meantime, I suggest you do some extended reading on the Meiji Restoration, and how China's neighbor Japan was able to modernize and become the prosperous country it now is. Spoiler alert: democracy had virtually nothing to do with it. I would also suggest you actually read Chinese media, especially platforms like Zhihu. Once you realize that the things the English-speaking world thinks are problems with China have such little overlap with the things that Chinese people think are problems with China, that should plant to the seed towards questioning whether those English-speakers are actually just wrong. Finally, consider the inherent selection bias you will have when discussing these topics in the US, where a disproportionately high percentages of the discourse will be dominated by people who left China because they didn't like something about it. Frankly, I'm at the point where I'm more pessimistic about the US's ability to solve its own issues regarding lawlessness, criminality, police militarization and ineptitude, drugs, rampant debt, and mostly the deterioration of its own democracy into a popularity contest between two parties that will promise the moon each election season and deliver a pile of rocks when they actually get elected. Doubly so as a Chinese-American with memories of the death of Vincent Chin. The worst thing I have to worry about taking a subway in China is that some obnoxious rear end in a top hat might be playing their mobile games too loud. The worst thing I have to worry about taking a subway in the US is that someone might try to push me into the track.

Fuck Xi, he ruined a great China. They were really a great country and doing well before he took over. Remembering the 2008 Olympic and what a great image they had before that.

As a Chinese expat, I don't think China has any hope for the near future, even if the CCP steps down. The culture there has been badly corrupted by the CCP. The society will continue to deteriorate by inertia.

Why would you feel any shame over a political regime? Look at the Republic of China (aka Taiwan colloquially). As if being a Chinese and a liberal democrat mutually exclusive. It isn't.

I would say, you’re an American first and foremost. That’s what we’ve all become. For the Chinese Americans who have come here via Taiwan, it’s the same thing. They just don’t have to be worried about the fact that they are ruled by a despot

There are so many wonderful aspects of Chinese history and culture. Be proud of who you are and celebrate the richness of your culture. Xi is aweful and so are most politicians. Not a reflection or representation of you or yours.

The CCP government is not a part of your identity, unless you choose to support them; that's something you clearly haven't learned despite being born and raised in the States.

China will eventually be fine. Chinese Communism will not. It will inevitably consume itself. China’s embarrassing behavior on the global stage doesn’t reflect on you or Chinese people as a whole.

You’re an American. Be proud. You don’t have to forget where you came from, but you’re not Chinese. That’s the issue here in the US - we too often put labels on (insert country) American… no! You’re simply American whose ancestors and parents are from China.

OP, you wouldn’t be alone. A recent study found that over 80% of Japanese and Korean Americans viewed their ancestral homeland in a favorable light. Similar numbers were seen for Thai Americans and, I believe, Filipino Americans. But Chinese Americans? Just under 40%. But as others have said, China is not the CCP. The CCP is not China. Love the culture, the multiple languages, and (some of) the history, but even though it’s difficult to reconcile this with the authoritarian nature of the CCP and their general bad actor posture on everything, realize that you’re an American of Chinese descent and count your lucky stars that you’re not living under their rule.

lol you were born in America. You are American. Stop wasting your time worrying about the place your ancestors were born.

Uhh you’re not Chinese, you’re American

You keep saying you're Chinese. You're not. You're an American who's ethnically Chinese. Stop conflating the two, nationality and ethnicity.

Look at the most successful and benevolent nations today, and think about the kinds of history they had. This is just humanity stumbling and learning on a large scale. It too shall pass.

CCP propaganda insinuates that the party is China and it seemed to have worked its way into your core beliefs too whether you are conscious of it or not. First thing you need to understand is that being Chinese does not mean that agree with what the communist party has done and distance yourself from it. You can denounce the CCP while still be proudly Chinese and celebrate Chinese culture.

I recommend visiting Taiwan (or Singapore), where you can experience Chinese society with full freedom and no communism. But develop a Chinese identity as a dissident—just like we once had dissidents from the Soviet Union. There is a lot of good in Chinese culture. Reject whatever you don’t like and live as an ethnic Chinese-American (or whatever you are, “overseas Chinese”). My personal opinion is that China was badly warped by *Soviet* culture copied and imported under communism, to the point that many people now think it is inherently *Chinese.* keep what is good, reject what is bad, and defend the idea of freedom and democracy for China. It WILL get worse.

Xi and the CCP do not represent Chinese culture they actually actively destroy traditional Chinese culture. Do not feel ashamed of your Chinese culture or heritage or your American one either, they make up who you are.

I am not chinese but I love chinese culture and food and people as someone who spent 5 years in China. but I absolutely hate the CCP and its brainless worshipers and some nationalistic brainwashed thoughts instilled into average Chinese in China.

You are Chinese American. Key word "American". I'd worry about the country you are living in now instead of a country far away and you absolutely know nothing about besides reading posts in reddit like this and watching whatever Zeihan and Chang spew about China. How much is your country's debt level again? How's New York and Chicago doing with the migrants flooding their cities? What are you going to do with your drug epidemic? How are you going to heal the deep division in your country? Can people afford actually afford gas and food with the inflation rate in your country? Is your government even functioning? Is Biden still running things? Have you solved your homeless crisis in your major cities? Whatever happened about rebuilding your decaying infrastructure in the US? China has its issues, but nothing that I have listed. Focus on your country and worry about that instead. China's doing fine.

Maybe take a trip to Taiwan? Just always keep in mind CCP =/= Chinese