Chinese Argentine
Encyclopedia
Chinese Argentines are citizens of Argentina
of Chinese ancestry. As of 2008, there are about 100,000 Argentines of Chinese origin .
in the 1980s and over the years, they have become accustomed to the porteño
lifestyle. The second wave came in the 1990s, hailing mostly from Fujian
Province. This group is filled with young drifters who came often through the illegal smuggling route originating in Fujian Province.
Recently, there has been a third and newer wave of Chinese immigration who are mostly ambitious and educated members of China’s growing middle-class who are looking to find their place in China’s growing economy. Young employees of Chinese companies have recently arrived to work for at least two years. Today, many Chinese Argentines usually run supermercados chinos (Chinese supermarkets), which dominate the second tier of grocery stores in Buenos Aires. Tintorerías (Dry Cleaners) for laundry are also a common Chinese-run business and Chinese restaurants can be found on nearly every street corner.
In June 2006, the union of truck drivers began a boycott of Chinese-owned stores
. This was due to an alleged gun-related incident between a driver and a store owner, which involved illegal firearms. Shortages in stores were reported due to a lack of deliveries until the boycott was officially lifted the following month.
. This neighborhood contains several Chinese restaurant
s, grocery stores, and a Buddhist temple. It is the heart of the Chinese community
in Argentina. The neighborhood began to develop in the 1980s when newly arrived Taiwan
ese and mainland Chinese
immigrants settled in this area. The neighborhood is also known for its Chinese New Year
celebrations.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
of Chinese ancestry. As of 2008, there are about 100,000 Argentines of Chinese origin .
History
The Chinese in Argentina came mostly in two waves. The first wave of immigrants arrived from TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
in the 1980s and over the years, they have become accustomed to the porteño
Porteño
Porteño in Spanish is used to refer to a person who is from or lives in a port city, but it can also be used as an adjective for anything related to those port cities....
lifestyle. The second wave came in the 1990s, hailing mostly from Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
Province. This group is filled with young drifters who came often through the illegal smuggling route originating in Fujian Province.
Recently, there has been a third and newer wave of Chinese immigration who are mostly ambitious and educated members of China’s growing middle-class who are looking to find their place in China’s growing economy. Young employees of Chinese companies have recently arrived to work for at least two years. Today, many Chinese Argentines usually run supermercados chinos (Chinese supermarkets), which dominate the second tier of grocery stores in Buenos Aires. Tintorerías (Dry Cleaners) for laundry are also a common Chinese-run business and Chinese restaurants can be found on nearly every street corner.
Discrimination
Since the Argentine economic crisis, many small Chinese-owned businesses have faced significant crime. Robberies are frequent, with one Chinese supermarket reportedly robbed up to 14 times in one year. Also, stories of family members shot at gunpoint in their store are not uncommon. Also, tensions have arisen with other immigrant groups as well.In June 2006, the union of truck drivers began a boycott of Chinese-owned stores
2006 Argentine truckers' boycott of Chinese store-owners
In June 2006 the truckers union of Argentina boycotted supermarkets owned by Chinese people in retaliation for the attack of a trucker by a store-owner....
. This was due to an alleged gun-related incident between a driver and a store owner, which involved illegal firearms. Shortages in stores were reported due to a lack of deliveries until the boycott was officially lifted the following month.
Buenos Aires' Chinatown
Buenos Aires' Chinatown is a largely commercial section two blocks long in the barrio of Belgrano, Buenos AiresBelgrano, Buenos Aires
Belgrano is a leafy, northern barrio or neighborhood of the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.- Location :The barrio of Palermo is to the southeast; Nuñez is to the northwest; Coghlan, Villa Urquiza, Villa Ortúzar and Colegiales are to the southwest....
. This neighborhood contains several Chinese restaurant
Chinese cuisine
Chinese cuisine is any of several styles originating in the regions of China, some of which have become highly popular in other parts of the world – from Asia to the Americas, Australia, Western Europe and Southern Africa...
s, grocery stores, and a Buddhist temple. It is the heart of the Chinese community
Asian Argentine
An Asian-Argentine is defined as an Argentine of Asian ancestry, either born within Argentina, or born elsewhere and later to become a citizen or resident of Argentina. Asian-Argentines settled in Argentina in large numbers during several waves of immigration in the twentieth century...
in Argentina. The neighborhood began to develop in the 1980s when newly arrived Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
ese and mainland Chinese
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
immigrants settled in this area. The neighborhood is also known for its Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
celebrations.