Configuring Diaspora Modernity and Mapping Chinese Communities in Australasia: The Perspective of a Chinese Nationalist, 1921–23

In 1921 Dr Sun Yat-sen, the Chinese Nationalist Party (known as Kuo Ming Tang, KMT) leader, appointed On-Yan Chan as his representative to Australia and the Pacific Islands. During his journey from late 1921 to 1923, Chan helped build KMT’s offices in Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Papua New Guinea. As Sun’s representative, Chan aroused considerable interest from the Australian mainstream community and strong support from the Chinese community. He even organised vernacular language dramas and gave public speeches in order to promote the political vision of Sun Yat-Sen on building modern China. Chan’s writings further significantly provide insights into the Chinese communities in Australia and the Pacific Islands. By interpreting Chan’s writings and bilingual archives, this paper first examines the Chinese nationalists’ network in Australasia. Then it will move to analyse Chan’s perspectives on the Chinese diaspora community in Australasia. From Chan’s point of view, what did the modern Chinese Australasian community look like? How did Chan evaluate the impacts of British colonial powers on making Chinese Australasian modern?