Chinese migration to the territory of the Russian Far East in the materials of the periodical press of the end XIX century

• Published in: Genesis: исторические исследования no. 6; pp. 93 - 104
• Main Author: Kontsevaya, Vitalina Andreevna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.06.2025
• ISSN: 2409-868X; 2409-868X
• DOI: 10.25136/2409-868X.2025.6.74298

In the history of Sino-Russian relations, a special place is occupied by the problem of population migration from one state to another. Despite the fact that both Russian and foreign researchers are actively studying this topic, there are still a sufficient number of questions in it. The article discusses issues related to the coverage in the periodical press of the end 19th century of the process of Chinese migration to the territory of the Russian Far East. Previously, researchers did not cover the migration of the Chinese population based on the data of the periodical press. Particular attention is paid to the number of migrants, the employment of arriving Chinese citizens, as well as the social aspects of interaction (everyday life, complaints, conflicts, offenses) between migrants and the Russian population, between Chinese subjects and local authorities. The author analyzes publications showing the features of migration flows, the causes and consequences of Chinese migration for the local population and the economy of the region. The article was prepared on the analysis of materials from periodicals of the second half of the 19th century, which makes it possible to better understand the features of migration processes and the significance of this phenomenon for the development of the Russian Far East. The author concludes that Chinese subjects on Russian territory have successfully adapted and introduced themselves into the economic activities of the Far East. However, relations between local residents and the authorities, on the one hand, and the Chinese, on the other, were quite difficult in view of fears of loss of influence in the region, a decrease in the number of the Russian population, and conflict situations between Russian and Chinese subjects. On the one hand, migrants were perceived by local authorities as a necessary working resource, on the other hand, they often caused justified fears.