What we do?

With the aim of elaborating on the implications of the People’s Republic of China’s new diaspora diplomacy approach—emerging in the 2010s—beyond the well-documented objectives related to development and foreign policy (e.g., investments, aid), this study explores the intersections and mutual reinforcements between diaspora diplomacy initiatives in Latin America and processes of political organization and local-level activism among segments of the Chinese diaspora. This conjuncture—aligned with China’s rise as a global power—has, on the one hand, created spaces in which diaspora individuals and groups are increasingly regarded as valuable assets for strengthening economic, social, and cultural ties between China and their countries of residence. On the other hand, it has also generated new opportunities and fostered greater confidence among some of these groups to embrace, revive, highlight, or reinterpret their “Chinese roots” in front of local audiences. However, rather than viewing this solely as an internal identity process, “re-Sinization” has supported political action among dias-pora groups—including descendants—and the articulation of their own interests within their respective local contexts. These developments are largely shaped by each group’s histo-rical trajectories and the sociopolitical environments in which they are embedded today. Seeking to delve deeper into this phenomenon, this study examines how the “re-Sinization” of the Chinese diaspora takes distinct forms in Mexico and Brazil with regard to local-level political engagement. In Brazil, due to historical trajectories, a higher degree of social integration, and sustained ties with China, diaspora groups are actively involved in China’s overseas diplomacy efforts while simultaneously participating more openly in local po-litical processes. In contrast, in Mexico—where the Chinese community has experienced a history of severe and violent discrimination—the current forms of political engagement are more introspective, centered on both internal and external historical recognition, and on the identity reconstruction and acceptance of Chinese descendants.