The Challenge of “Chineseness”: Taiwan’s Identity and Education Policy for Hua-ch’iao and Malaysian Chinese from the 1990s to 2000s

Abstract This manuscript delves into the complexities of imagined hua-ch’iao identity and its interplay with the Taiwanese education policies for overseas Chinese in Malaysia from the 1990s to the 2000s. By examining the shift in Taiwan’s stance toward Chinese in diaspora, the study underscores the devolution of hua-ch’iao education within the broader context of Taiwan’s quest for a distinct national identity from China. We explore the historical underpinnings and the ideological shifts that informed the policies under the Kuomintang ( kmt ) and the Democratic Progressive Party ( dpp ), highlighting the contentious debate over “Chineseness” and its implications for overseas Chinese communities. By tracing the changes in educational policy, the study reflects on the broader questions of identity, nationalism, and the politics of belonging in the era of globalization. It raises critical inquiries about Taiwan’s engagement with overseas Chinese communities and the conceptual challenges of defining “Chineseness” since the twenty-first century.