Explained: Why Are Chinese "Running" Towards Canada?

A wave of "run" has swept across China, as citizens become increasingly dissatisfied with President Xi Jinping's three consecutive terms and strict epidemic control measures. The trend has led to a surge in applications for immigration to Canada, which has long been a favoured destination for Chinese immigrants.

According to statistics from the Canadian Immigration and Citizenship Department, the number of permanent resident applications approved from China reached 9925 from July to September 2021. This is nearly 15% more than the same quarter of 2019 before the epidemic, and higher than any quarter since 2015. The Canadian Immigration Department cannot confirm whether there were higher approval application numbers before 2015.

Immigration consultants say that the immigration business has been booming under the epidemic, with a significant increase in customer inquiries. They attribute this trend to Canada's immigration policy, which primarily attracts young people. As a result, even if Chinese parents cannot apply for investment immigration, they can easily send their children to Canada to study, thereby gaining access to a green card.

Lin Litong, who came to Canada as a student six years ago, believes that the current trend of Chinese people leaving the country is driven by a deep-seated sense of insecurity among the population. "Even if they say that foreign countries are whatever chaos or white left, they have a sense of security for themselves," Litong said to a Chinese diaspora publication.

As more and more Chinese people seek better economic opportunities, a more open and democratic society, and the opportunity to live and study abroad, it is likely that this trend of immigration to Canada will continue in the coming years. For many Chinese people, Canada offers the chance to escape from the uncertainty and constraints of life in China, and to build a better future for themselves and their families.

However, it is important to note that this trend is not limited to Canada alone. Chinese people are also leaving the country to live in other destinations, such as the United States and Australia. In fact, the desire for better economic opportunities, a more open and democratic society, and the opportunity to live and study abroad are global trends that are driving Chinese people to seek new homes in a variety of countries around the world.

Overall, the trend of Chinese people leaving China to live in other countries is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, driven by a combination of economic, political, and social factors. As China continues to evolve and change, it is likely that this trend will continue to evolve and change as well, reflecting the changing needs and desires of the Chinese people.

Additionally, wealthy Chinese people may also be motivated to leave the country due to limited opportunities for social mobility. Despite China's rapid economic growth in recent decades, there are still significant barriers to social mobility in the country. This can be frustrating for wealthy Chinese people who may feel that they have reached the limits of what they can achieve in China, and may be looking for new opportunities in other countries.

The factors that are primarily driving the trend of wealthy Chinese leaving China is -

Economic uncertainty: As the Chinese economy has slowed in recent years, many wealthy Chinese people are concerned about the stability of their wealth and the future of their businesses. As a result, they may be looking to move their assets and their families to more stable economies, such as the United States or Canada.

Political instability: China's political system is relatively stable, but there are occasional periods of instability or unrest. For wealthy Chinese people who have accumulated significant assets, the prospect of political instability is particularly concerning. As a result, they may be looking to move to countries with more stable political systems, such as the United States or Canada and even if these are not stable in the typical sense, they are certainly more predictable and for many people, China is not.