This study analyzes how Chinese immigration policy has affected adaptive Aspects of Long Term Korean Resident Aliens in China. There are two-folds. First, it reviews how Chinese immigration policy has been implemented and enforced, focusing on regulat...
This study analyzes how Chinese immigration policy has affected adaptive Aspects of Long Term Korean Resident Aliens in China. There are two-folds. First, it reviews how Chinese immigration policy has been implemented and enforced, focusing on regulations for resident aliens in China. Second, it looks closely at how Korean resident aliens have adapted to life in China by conducting surveys and analyzing the results. In 2007, there are 700,000 Korean resident aliens living in China. Koreans represent 30% of the total resident aliens population in China (Korean Association and consulate estimates 50,000). China created the law which is called "Chinese resident aliens immigration policy" in 1985 relating to immigration, residency permission, treatment of foreigners, and life in China for long term resident aliens and created the regulations relating to it in 1986. Twenty-three years had seen a drastic change in the fields of politics, economy and society due to Chinese economic growth. However, Chinese immigration policy has kept pace with these changes. This has led real problems for the Chinese government's adminstration of its resident aliens.
In regard to regulations and interviews, the results are as follows :
The administrators apply immigration regulations subjectively and many times they do not follow government policy at all. When resident aliens move to other places, they must register the move with public security in advance even though there is a rule which allows all residents aliens to move anywhere. When they go out without an identification card, like a passport or visa, it is not regarded as illegal. But if they are charged with an offense, their past could be investigated. It is not practical. Local survey results show that 24.3% of Korean resident aliens respondents (around 50) living in China in July of 2008 responded "No" to the question " Do you register with public security when you move?". The reasons why they did not register were as follows: 14 respondents did not know how to follow that immigration law, 10 respondents did not feel uncomfortable they did not register, 17 respondents had no inspection when they did not register. The responses proved their ignorance of the law. 45 respondents (21% among 216 respondents) said that they had no trouble at all when they go out without identification, responding to the question, "Do you carry a passport or ID card when you go out?"
This shows that immigration policy has some problems. I draw a conclusion from this study on Chinese resident aliens policy and Korean adaptive aspect in China. First, this policy based on the regulation for Chinese residents aliens is not conducive to current open market society because it was created under communist idealism. For instance, when foreign visitors local areas in China on business they must register the locations where they go and accommodations which they are going to stay. Second, Chinese administrators often use double standards when applying this law ; they follow customs as opposed to immigration policy. They do not allow foreigners to stay because of general reasons such as social situations. This undermines equality and reliability in administering justice. Third, the Chinese government should provide continuous public information for foreigners about immigration policy and regulations. The success of that policy depends on how many foreigners register for themselves. Foreigners who just arrived in China become tentatively illegal because they do not understand this policy and its procedures. When foreigners initially go through immigration or are issued a long term visa, they need to be informed fully. Fourth, this immigration policy is influencing investment companies from abroad. Those companies which are about to enter China are ignorant of Chinese immigration policy. However, foreign companies which have experienced inconsistency and an illogic application of immigration policy plan to quit doing business in China. Fifth, Korean resident aliens have never received help from the Korean consulate or embassy. There has been little help from private Korean associations and the efforts of the Korean government for Korean residents has left low expectations. Sixth, Korean resident aliens want the Korean and Chinese governments to solve the conflicts they are facing right now and protect their rights, not their welfare and cultural needs. Seventh, most of them do not feel they have to join a private Korean association. Eighth, they are not assimilated to life in China but are just adapting to it. They are only long term resident aliens, not immigrants because China does not formally allow it. Ninth, they can not follow the regulation fully.
The reason they do not follow it is not only due to the regulation itself, but also to the Korean resident aliens themselves. It is not easy for the two countries which have different governing systems and national laws to reach a satisfactory agreement to solve immigrant problems. However, it is worthy to point out the drawbacks to improve on the limitations of the Chinese immigration policy. Therefore, I conclude that the Chinese immigration policy should be improved and Korean long term resident aliens should change their adaptive aspects in a positive way.