Distant Shores

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This pioneering history reshapes our understanding of the colonial era and China's role within it. Traditionally seen as a land empire, China's perceived lack of maritime and colonial reach has been linked to its economic decline after the mid-eighteenth century. However, the narrative reveals that the economic expansion of southeastern China rivaled European colonial ambitions. Beginning with the Industrial Revolution and culminating in the Great Depression, the author illustrates how sojourners from a tumultuous region in China became key players in the South China Sea's commerce. Focusing on Chaozhou in Guangdong, the text explores the shared cultural and economic practices of its people. It highlights how Chaozhouese, both domestically and abroad, benefited from an overseas colonial system without formal governance, relying instead on a network of familial, fraternal, and commercial ties across ports like Bangkok, Singapore, and Hong Kong. This work portrays a convergence between Chinese and European modernity, emphasizing the critical role of colonial sites in modern development and capital accumulation. Through the transoceanic migration of Chaozhouese laborers and merchants, the narrative connects the Chinese homeland to a broader frontier of settlement and economic extraction.