The Role of Religion in Chinese Subethnicity: Christian Communities of Papua New Guinean Chinese in Australia

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to consider the relationship between subethnicity and religion among Chinese in Australia using the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Chinese population in Australia as a case study. By looking at their Christian communities in Australia, the paper analyzes the characteristics of Chinese subethnicity. Australia has had a Chinese community since the late 19th century. Since the Australian government abandoned its White Australian Policy and adopted multiculturalism after World War II, the number of Chinese newly arriving in Australia has increased. These Chinese newcomers have come from various countries such as Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, East Timor, Vietnam, and the People’s Republic of China. PNG Chinese are included among these Chinese arrivals in Australia. Chinese immigration to PNG began in the colonial period with New Guinea Island. Germany occupied the northeastern part of New Guinea and introduced Chinese immigrants as colonial laborers. German New Guinea was taken over by the Australian army at the beginning of World War I. After World War II, the Australian government allowed the Chinese in Papua and New Guinea to acquire Australian citizenship. PNG Chinese subsequently began to send their children to Australia for higher education, and PNG Chinese have used English as their common language. Before the independence of PNG in 1975, the PNG Chinese started migrating to Australia. They established Christian associations in Sydney and Brisbane. The PNG Chinese have interacted with Chinese people from other countries through these associations. Because of the differences in their languages and religions, however, the Christian associations of the PNG Chinese cannot include all of the Chinese subethnic groups. Their subethnic particularity can be seen in the PNG Chinese associations.