Greater China

Lore & Background

The term Greater China has been used for a long time, but with differing scopes and connotations. During the 1930s, American academic George Cressey used it to refer to the entirety of the territory controlled by the Qing dynasty, as opposed to China proper. In the 1940s, the United States used it on government maps as a political term including territories claimed by the Republic of China that were part of the previous Qing Empire, or geographically to refer to topographical features associated with China. The concept reappeared in Chinese language sources in the late 1970s, referring to growing commercial ties between the mainland and Hong Kong, with the possibility of extending these to Taiwan. The English term re-emerged in the 1980s to refer to growing economic ties between the regions as well as the possibility of political unification. It is not an institutionalized entity such as the EU, ASEAN, or AU, but rather a generalization to group several markets seen to be closely linked economically, and does not imply sovereignty.

Reader's Guide

Greater China matters as a concept because it encapsulates the complex interplay of economic integration, cultural identity, and political sensitivities among Chinese-majority regions. Multinational corporations like Procter & Gamble and Apple use the term to name regional headquarters that operate across mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taipei, often to avoid invoking sensitivities over the political status of Taiwan. However, the term is contested: some observers in Taiwan characterize it as harmful or a conflation of distinct polities and markets, while the Chinese government has avoided it, either to allay fears of its economic expansionism or to avoid suggesting Taiwan and the People's Republic of China are on equal footing. In academic discourse, several articles in The China Quarterly use the concept to summarize linkages among the far-flung international Chinese community, incorporating Singapore and overseas Chinese communities. Yet Chinese-Australian sinologist Wang Gungwu has characterized the concept as a 'myth' and 'wrong' if applied to overseas Chinese communities. The term has also been used in reference to Chinese irredentism in nationalist contexts, such as the notion that China should reclaim its 'lost territories' to create a Greater China. Its legacy is one of persistent ambiguity, serving both as a practical business tool and a flashpoint for political debate.

Did You Know?

• During the 1930s, American academic George Cressey used 'Greater China' to refer to the entirety of the territory controlled by the Qing dynasty, as opposed to China proper.
• The English term re-emerged in the 1980s to refer to growing economic ties between regions as well as the possibility of political unification.
• Chinese-Australian sinologist Wang Gungwu has characterized the concept as a 'myth' and 'wrong' if applied to overseas Chinese communities.
• The term has been used in reference to Chinese irredentism in nationalist contexts, such as the notion that China should reclaim its 'lost territories' to create a Greater China.