CHINESE, ETHNIC

Chinese, Ethnic: translation

Ethnic group. While the statistics are highly disputed, there are approximately 500,000 Chinese immigrants living within the Russian Federation, most of whom are in the country illegally. Chinese tend to reside in areas proximate to the Chinese border, namely,Amur Oblastand thekraisofPrimorsky,Khabarovsk, andZabaykalsky. The presence of so many Chinese in areas with historic ties to China, when combined with a steady exodus ofethnic Russiansfrom the region, has emerged as a national security issue in contemporary Russia. Most Chinese outside theRussian Far Eastengage in shuttle trade withMoscowand other parts of western Russia, often employing theTrans-Siberian Railwayor other transcontinental routes to move cheap goods to European markets.

See alsoForeign trade.