Chinese Transnational Business Networks and Development in Modern Xiamen—— Focus on the Qiaopi Network in Southern Fujian Province
Abstract: Taking the Qiaopi(“侨批”,the letters and remittances of the overseas Chinese) network as an example,this article focuses on analyzing the flow of overseas Chinese remittances between Southeast Asia and the southern Fujian brought about by the Qiaopi network and its role in promoting the urban development of Xiamen,exploring the linkage effect between the Southeast Asian economy and Xiamen’s urban development brought about by the Qiaopi network from the perspective of capital accumulation,and comparing the differences in urban development dynamics among Xiamen,Shanghai and Guangzhou.Finally,the study finds that the main driving force for Xiamen’s urban development was from the Qiaopi network,which was almost completely dominated and promoted by the Qiaopi network and the Chinese transnational business network due to the constraints of location,hinterland and endowment,thus forming different new models of urbanization in Shanghai (Western-led) and Guangzhou (domestic-led,with participation of overseas Chinese and foreign capital).