Author: Zhao Yantao, Communications Department
For Chinese people living in Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, voting has long been anything but an unfamiliar concept. Every time we walk into a polling station, every time we earnestly read a candidate’s platform, and every time we cast our ballot into the ballot box, we are not only choosing a representative; we are fulfilling the duty of a citizen. Precisely because we have such experience, we understand all the more: democracy is not merely an election, but a system that enables society to keep communicating, keep correcting itself, and develop in peace. The value of a parliament lies not in everyone holding the same opinions, but in different opinions being expressed through institutions, debated according to rules, and brought to consensus through law. Today, more and more overseas Chinese who care about China’s future development have begun to ponder a shared question: can the China of the future also establish a more open and more rational mechanism for public discussion? Can it give more citizens the opportunity to participate in public affairs and contribute their wisdom and experience? For Chinese who have long lived in Southeast Asia, you possess a most precious experience.
You know what a vote is. You know what a member of parliament is. You know what it means to oversee the government. You know what it means to express opinions in accordance with the law.
These experiences are not the wealth of one country alone; they are an important treasure of modern civil society. We respect the national identity of every Southeast Asian Chinese, and we respect your duties and obligations as citizens of the countries where you live. What we hope for is not to change anyone’s identity, but to share together experience in institution-building, public participation, and democratic practice, so as to offer more directions worth pondering for the future. Historically, the overseas Chinese of Nanyang (Southeast Asia) actively supported education, philanthropy, and social development, leaving a profound mark on the development of Chinese culture. Today, this spirit can still be carried forward. If you care about China’s future development, if you believe that institutions can improve society, and if you are willing to share your experience in democracy, citizen participation, and parliamentary politics, we sincerely welcome you to also join the China Congress (Provisional) and open up more public exchange.
Image from the internet: the tug-of-war over votes in Singapore.
Image from the internet: Malaysian voters casting their ballots.
Image from the internet: an Indonesian voter polling center.