Figure 1.--A major impetus for refugee flow in Asia during the 20th century has been the spread of totalitarianism. The numbers would have actually been much larger except that the Asian Communist regimes once in power, like the Soviets, do mot allow their people to flee. The Communists even place restrictions on movement within the country. And for the most part no one migrarates to a Communist country, only from a Communist country. Here are Laotian refugee children in Thailand during the1970s. One cause of the fefugee flow from Laos was the genocidal campaign the Noth Vietnamese waged against the hill ribes in Laos and South Vietnam.

Asia is the most populace continent. We know very little about Asian political refugees and economic migrants until the 20th century. And their were huge dislocations such as the Taiping Rebellion (1850s-60s) in southerm China resulting in 20-30 million deaths. Famine has been another cause leading to refugee crises. Unlike Europeans, there was no where to go to in large numbers. We note some Chinese and Japanese migration in the 19th century. They were mostly economic migrants. The Chinese migrated to California beginning with the Gold Rush (1848). The Japanese migrated mostly to Hawaii before it was annxed by the United States. Smaller numbers migrated to California. Indians during the Raj migrated to various locations within the Britih Empire to work as indentured laborers. Millions of Chinese fled the Japanese invaders during World War II, but mostly to areas in China under Nationalist control. Than after the Communist victory, many Chinese fled to Taiwan (1949). Another large refugee crisis in Asia resulted from the partition of the British Raj and the creation of India and Pakistan (1947). Potentially the largest refugee crisis would have been China after the Communist seizure of power (1948), but China managed to prevent many people from escaping as did North Korea. And no one wanted to accept millions of Chinese refugees, not even Taiwan. India has accepted Tibetians fleeing Chinese oppression in their Homeland (1959). Since the 1962 Chinese-Indian border war (1962), however, India has been very careful to avoid offending China. Muslim Thais have fled south into Malaysia. The French in the First Viernam War enabled some North Vietnamese to escape Communist domintion, mostly Catholics (1953-54). The North Vietnamese victory in the Second Vietnam War created another refugee crisis (1975). A few peiole made it out with the Americans. Tragically there was no safe option for most leading to the tragedy of the Boat People. The Kymer Rouge genocid in Cambodia created yet another refugee crisis.

Chronology

Asia is the most populace continent. We know very little about Asian political refugees and economic migrants until the 20th century. And their were huge dislocations such as the Taiping Rebellion (1850s-60s) in southerm China resulting in 20-30 million deaths. We note some Chinese and Japanese migration in the 19th century. They were mostly economic migrants.

Causes

Famine has been another cause leading to refugee crises. Unlike Europeans, there was no where to go to in large numbers. Economics has proven to be a major cause of migration. The Chinese migrated to California beginning with the Gold Rush (1848). Political issues, especially Communist totalitarianusm has proven the mafor impetus for migration in the 20th century.

Countries

Chinese migrated to he United States drawn by accounts of gold finds in California. The Japanese migrated mostly to Hawaii before it was annxed by the United States. Smaller numbers migrated to California. Indians during the Raj migrated to various locations within the Britih Empire to work as indentured laborers. Millions of Chinese fled the Japanese invaders during World War II, but mostly to areas in China under Nationalist control. Than after the Communist victory, many Chinese fled to Taiwan (1949). Another large refugee crisis in Asia resulted from the partition of the British Raj and the creation of India and Pakistan (1947). Potentially the largest refugee crisis would have been China after the Communist seizure of power (1948), but China managed to prevent many people from escaping as did North Korea. And no one wanted to accept millions of Chinese refugees, not even Taiwan. India has accepted Tibetians fleeing Chinese oppression in their Homeland (1959). Since the 1962 Chinese-Indian border war (1962), however, India has been very careful to avoid offending China. Muslim Thais have fled south into Malaysia. The French in the First Viernam War enabled some North Vietnamese to escape Communist domintion, mostly Catholics (1953-54). The North Vietnamese victory in the Second Vietnam War created another refugee crisis (1975). A few peiole made it out with the Americans. Tragically there was no safe option for most leading to the tragedy of the Boat People. The Kymer Rouge genocid in Cambodia created yet another refugee crisis.

Created: 2:47 PM 2/20/2018
Last updated: 2:48 PM 2/20/2018