qiáowù: 侨务 - Overseas Chinese Affairs

• Keywords: qiáowù, 侨务, overseas Chinese affairs, diaspora affairs, Chinese government policy, consulate services for Chinese, 华侨, 华人, 国侨办, Chinese diaspora, what is qiaowu
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 侨务 (qiáowù), a crucial term in Chinese politics referring to “overseas Chinese affairs.” This page explains the official government work, policies, and services directed towards Chinese nationals and ethnic Chinese living abroad. Understand how China manages its relationship with its global diaspora, a concept that goes beyond typical consular services and is deeply tied to culture, identity, and national strategy.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qiáowù
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A (Specialized Term)
• Concise Definition: The administrative work, policies, and affairs concerning overseas Chinese.
• In a Nutshell: “侨务 (qiáowù)” is the formal, bureaucratic term for all government tasks related to managing and assisting the Chinese diaspora. Think of it as a specialized branch of government services, like a “Department of Overseas Chinese,” that handles everything from legal aid and cultural promotion to maintaining ties between overseas communities and their ancestral homeland.

• 侨 (qiáo): This character means “to live abroad” or an “expatriate.” The left-side radical 亻 is the “person” radical, clearly indicating the word is about people. The right side, 乔 (qiáo), provides the sound.
• 务 (wù): This character means “affair,” “business,” or “task.” It's the same “wù” found in words like 服务 (fúwù - service) and 任务 (rènwù - mission).
• The characters combine literally to mean “affairs of those living abroad,” perfectly capturing the concept of “overseas Chinese affairs.”

侨务 is a concept far more specific and significant in China than its closest Western equivalents. While a country like the United States provides consular services to its citizens abroad, 侨务 is unique because its scope often extends beyond current Chinese citizens (华侨, huáqiáo) to include people of Chinese descent who are citizens of other countries (华人, huárén). This stems from a deep-rooted cultural idea of a greater Chinese identity (中华民族, Zhōnghuá Mínzú) that is connected by ancestry and culture, not just by a passport. The Chinese government sees the global diaspora as a valuable resource for economic investment, technological exchange, and the promotion of Chinese culture and soft power. Therefore, 侨务 is not just about administrative help; it's a strategic tool for national development and maintaining global influence. It involves:

• Protecting the rights and interests of Chinese citizens abroad.
• Encouraging investment and talent to return to China (see 海归, hǎiguī).
• Promoting Chinese language and culture through institutions like Confucius Institutes.
• Fostering a sense of belonging and patriotism among diaspora communities.

This contrasts with the Western individualistic model, where a citizen of another country, regardless of their ancestry, is generally considered just that—a foreign citizen. 侨务 operates on a more collectivist, ancestry-based framework.

You will almost exclusively encounter 侨务 in formal contexts. It is not a word used in casual, everyday conversation.

• In the News and Government: This is its primary habitat. News reports, government websites, and official documents will frequently mention 侨务 when discussing policies related to the diaspora. For example, the “国务院侨务办公室 (Guówùyuàn Qiáowù Bàngōngshì)” or “Guoqiaoban” is the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, a key government body.
• At Embassies and Consulates: While an individual might not use the word themselves, the services they seek may fall under the umbrella of 侨务. For example, renewing a Chinese passport while abroad, registering a newborn, or seeking legal assistance are all part of the government's 侨务 work.
• Formal Connotation: The term is neutral to positive and highly formal. It conveys a sense of official state business and national strategy.

• Example 1:
  • 中国政府非常重视侨务工作。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó zhèngfǔ fēicháng zhòngshì qiáowù gōngzuò.
  • English: The Chinese government places great importance on the work of overseas Chinese affairs.
  • Analysis: A very common and standard sentence you might see in an official article or hear in a news report. It highlights the state-level significance of the term.
• Example 2:
  • 他是国务院侨务办公室的一名干部。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì Guówùyuàn Qiáowù Bàngōngshì de yī míng gànbù.
  • English: He is an official at the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council.
  • Analysis: This shows how 侨务 is used as part of an official organizational title.
• Example 3:
  • 这次会议的主要议题是新时期的侨务政策。
  • Pinyin: Zhècì huìyì de zhǔyào yìtí shì xīn shíqī de qiáowù zhèngcè.
  • English: The main topic of this conference is the overseas Chinese affairs policy for the new era.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates its use in the context of policy-making and strategy.
• Example 4:
  • 地方政府也设立了侨务部门，服务归国侨胞。
  • Pinyin: Dìfāng zhèngfǔ yě shèlì le qiáowù bùmén, fúwù guīguó qiáobāo.
  • English: Local governments have also established overseas Chinese affairs departments to serve returning overseas compatriots.
  • Analysis: Shows that 侨务 is handled at both the national and local levels. Note the related term 侨胞 (qiáobāo).
• Example 5:
  • 办理这个手续属于侨务范围，你需要联系大使馆。
  • Pinyin: Bànlǐ zhège shǒuxù shǔyú qiáowù fànwéi, nǐ xūyào liánxì dàshǐguǎn.
  • English: Handling this procedure falls within the scope of overseas Chinese affairs; you need to contact the embassy.
  • Analysis: A practical, albeit formal, explanation one might receive. It defines a task as being part of 侨务.
• Example 6:
  • 文化交流是侨务工作的重要组成部分。
  • Pinyin: Wénhuà jiāoliú shì qiáowù gōngzuò de zhòngyào zǔchéng bùfèn.
  • English: Cultural exchange is an important component of overseas Chinese affairs work.
  • Analysis: This highlights the “soft power” aspect of 侨务, which goes beyond simple administrative tasks.
• Example 7:
  • 他利用自己的侨务关系，为家乡吸引了大量投资。
  • Pinyin: Tā lìyòng zìjǐ de qiáowù guānxì, wèi jiāxiāng xīyǐn le dàliàng tóuzī.
  • English: He used his connections in overseas Chinese affairs to attract a large amount of investment for his hometown.
  • Analysis: This sentence hints at the networking and economic dimension of 侨务. The connections are official or related to the diaspora community.
• Example 8:
  • 侨务工作的核心是凝聚侨心、汇集侨智、发挥侨力。
  • Pinyin: Qiáowù gōngzuò de héxīn shì níngjù qiáoxīn, huìjí qiáozhì, fāhuī qiáolì.
  • English: The core of overseas Chinese affairs work is to unite the hearts, gather the wisdom, and leverage the strength of the overseas Chinese.
  • Analysis: A very formal, slogan-like sentence from official discourse that perfectly encapsulates the goals of 侨务.
• Example 9:
  • 做好新形势下的侨务工作，对国家发展具有重要意义。
  • Pinyin: Zuòhǎo xīn xíngshì xià de qiáowù gōngzuò, duì guójiā fāzhǎn jùyǒu zhòngyào yìyì.
  • English: Doing a good job in overseas Chinese affairs under the new circumstances is of great significance to national development.
  • Analysis: This links 侨务 directly to the broader goal of national rejuvenation and development.
• Example 10:
  • 许多大学都开设了关于侨务理论与实践的课程。
  • Pinyin: Xǔduō dàxué dōu kāishè le guānyú qiáowù lǐlùn yǔ shíjiàn de kèchéng.
  • English: Many universities offer courses on the theory and practice of overseas Chinese affairs.
  • Analysis: Shows that 侨务 is also a field of academic study.

• Mistake 1: Confusing 侨务 (qiáowù) with general consular services.
  • 侨务 is specifically for overseas Chinese. A British tourist who lost their passport in Shanghai needs “领事服务 (lǐngshì fúwù - consular services)” from the British consulate. This is not a 侨务 matter.
  • Incorrect: “My American friend has a 侨务 problem.” (Unless the friend is also of Chinese descent).
  • Correct: “My American friend has a 领事 (lǐngshì) problem.”
• Mistake 2: Using it in casual conversation.
  • This word is too formal for everyday chat. If you are a Chinese person living abroad and need to renew your passport, you would simply say “我要去换护照 (Wǒ yào qù huàn hùzhào - I need to go renew my passport),” not “我要去办侨务 (Wǒ yào qù bàn qiáowù).” Using 侨务 would sound overly stiff and bureaucratic.
• Nuance: Scope of “Overseas Chinese”.
  • The term's power lies in its ambiguous but broad definition of who qualifies for these “affairs.” It includes not only 华侨 (huáqiáo - Chinese citizens abroad) but also 华人 (huárén - ethnic Chinese with foreign citizenship). This is a key point of contention and interest for foreign governments who observe China's relationship with its diaspora.

• 华侨 (huáqiáo) - A Chinese citizen who resides in a foreign country. This is a legal and official status.
• 华人 (huárén) - An ethnic Chinese person; this term includes individuals who may be citizens of other countries.
• 侨胞 (qiáobāo) - A warm, affectionate term meaning “overseas compatriot.” It emphasizes a sense of shared kinship.
• 海归 (hǎiguī) - A popular slang term, literally “sea turtle,” for overseas-educated Chinese people who have returned to China.
• 侨乡 (qiáoxiāng) - “Hometown of overseas Chinese.” Refers to areas in China (like parts of Guangdong and Fujian) with a long history of emigration.
• 国侨办 (guóqiáobàn) - The common abbreviation for the 国务院侨务办公室 (State Council Overseas Chinese Affairs Office), the main government body for these matters.
• 领事 (lǐngshì) - Consular. The related but distinct field of general diplomatic services provided by a consulate.
• 统战 (tǒngzhàn) - “United Front.” A broader political strategy of the CCP to co-opt and influence various groups, including overseas Chinese communities, to serve its goals. 侨务 is often considered a key part of United Front work.