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View all search resultsFor RI-born Chinese in Beijing, Independence Day feels like a homecoming
Guiqiao may have been born in Indonesia or another country but eventually chose to settle in China.
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A
t the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing, those celebrating the country’s Independence Day were not only Indonesian nationals who were resident in China, but also Chinese citizens who professed their love for Indonesia and those who identified themselves as Guiqiao, people of Chinese ethnicity but who were not born in mainland China.
Guiqiao may have been born in Indonesia or another country but eventually chose to settle in China.
Late last week, hundreds of these Guiqiao solemnly joined the Independence Day celebration led by Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun.
They joined the chorus for the national anthem “Indonesia Raya” and were delighted when other national songs were performed. "We feel like coming home," said Xie Yiheng, a Guiqiao who was born in Medan, North Sumatra.
He said Indonesia was like a second home and that his love for Indonesia remained in his heart, although he left Indonesia in the late 1950s when he was 16.
"But Indonesia is still in our hearts," said Xie.
The same feeling was shared by Huang Xiufen, who claimed to have been born in Tulungagung, East Java.
Even though Huang left Indonesia for mainland China decades ago, he has a special place for Indonesia in his heart.
"We will remember Indonesia for the rest of our lives. Every time there is an activity at the Indonesian Embassy, we always come," he said.
Huang estimated that currently there are between 2,000 to 3,000 members of the Guiqiao community in China.
"And there are around 600 people who are active in the Guiqiao association," he said, adding that there were at least 1,000 individuals registered.
Members of the community have closely watched the development of Indonesia and say they are very happy with how things are going in the Southeast Asian country.
"Hopefully, in the future, it will be even better. Relations between Indonesia and China are also excellent. So we hope that Indonesia will be more advanced in the future," Huang said.
Ambassador Djauhari said that the embassy always facilitated meetings of the community. "They regularly hold reunions, especially ahead of Independence Day. In every reunion, they sing Indonesian songs and enjoy Indonesian food," Djauhari told The Jakarta Post in Beijing.
Djauhari said that some of members of the Guiqiao community could fluently sing Indonesian songs like “Rayuan Pulau Kelapa” (Coconut Island Calling).
Some members of the community also came for the food, he said.
“We’ve got betutu chicken, meatballs and eggs, which are typical of Indonesian food. This time we are displaying Balinese specialties, including cendol, rujak and other dishes," said Djauhari.
The spread of Indonesian-style culinary delights was served up at the Independence Day party, which Djauhari described as a kind of “people's party”.
