Overseas Chinese Should Observe The Laws Of The Country In Which They Reside

Date: 1956-09-18
Source: en:FLP-Diplomacy
OVERSEAS CHINESE SHOULD OBSERVE
THE LAWS OF THE COUNTRY IN
WHICH THEY RESIDE*
(September 18, 1956)
The government of China has consistently encouraged overseas Chinese
to observe the laws and decrees of the country in which they reside, enjoined
them not to engage in political activities, and encouraged them to contribute
their human efforts and financial resources to serve the interests of the residing
country. Of course, it is possible that some overseas Chinese have done
something against the interests of Indonesia, but that has nothing to do with
the Chinese government. If such cases occur, the Chinese government and the
Indonesian government should cooperate closely to educate them. The legitimate interests of overseas Chinese, including businessmen, should be protected; however, punishment should be meted out to unscrupulous merchants who
engage in illegal, fraudulent or blackmail activities. We in China punished
such unscrupulous businessmen during our movements against the Three Evils
(i.e., corruption, waste and bureaucracy) and the Five Evils (i.e., bribery, tax
evasion, theft of state property, cheating on government contracts and stealing
of classified economic information). We have not yet established diplomatic
relations with Singapore; if and when diplomatic relations are established, we
can also carry on such education among the overseas Chinese there.
(From the verbatim record)
* These are excerpts from Mao Zedong's talk with Soekadjo Wijopranoto, ambassador
of Indonesia to China.