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The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:

• A person who resides in and holds citizenship of the People's Republic of China (including Hong Kong and Macau) or the Republic of China (Taiwan). Whether citizenship in the ROC makes one "Chinese" is subject of some debate as supporters of Taiwan independence do not consider Taiwan to be part of China.
• The Zhonghua minzu (sometimes translated as "Chinese nation"), a supra-ethnic concept which includes the Han, Zhuang, Tibetans, and other established ethnic groups who have lived within the borders of China since at least the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911). This definition stems from a nationality perspective. However, it includes most overseas Chinese. This definition of "Chinese" is controversial outside China and not widely used in English.^{citation needed}
• A person of Han Chinese ancestry is often simply referred to as "Chinese" or "ethnic Chinese" in Western countries, though this usage is politically incorrect when used to the exclusion of non-Han Chinese. This definition stems from a genealogical perspective.^{citation needed} Note that some overseas Chinese may not necessarily identify with either the PRC or the ROC. Because so many non-Chinese peoples were assimilated into Chinese culture and became Han Chinese the term is not racial anymore, and DNA has shown that Han Chinese are not a single ethnic group but an amalgamation of many peoples.

Many factors must be considered when deciding whether a person is Chinese. Apart from nationality (legal) reasons, place of residence (geographical factors), race (biological reasons), and ancestry (historical and genealogical factors), recognition as a Chinese and identifying as Chinese by that person and other people (mainly with those who share a close or intimate relationship with that person) are also very important.

See also

• List of Chinese people
• List of ethnic groups in China
• Chinese nationality

References

• Who are the Chinese people? (Chinese)

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• This page was last modified on 20 August 2008, at 19:56.

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