Adaptation of the Chinese Ethnic to the Manado Local Community

ABSTRACT

This article contributes to the study of adaptation aspects of ethnic Chinese in Eastern Indonesia today by emphasizing the long history of the existence dynamics of this ethnic group through the affirmation of its identity and the acceleration of its trans‐local relations. This article investigates the strategies of the Chinese‐Manadonese diaspora in terms of socio‐cultural, business and political aspects. This study uses qualitative‐interpretive methods with two methods of data collection: publications and field excavations, such as observation and interviews, with participants from several Chinese Manadonese. This study found that ethnic Chinese, in their adaptation mission, use economic expansion efforts, maintain their Chinese names based on their sub‐ethnicity, establish educational foundations and form internal cross‐ethnic networking communities and involvement in government politics. This study argues that the adaptation mission of ethnic minorities starts from economic expansion, strengthening identity and seeking asylum in government politics in their diaspora countries.