[adverwork]

not sure how old you are but I have heard that a child with Thai parents in the UK has to choose by the age of 16 or 18 whether they are going to be British or Thai and can't be both

But that is a Thai rule not a British rule.

David

[wentscat]

Chinese blood in Thai body :-)

[nTDsD0aU]

Since alot of Thais are originally from China, are their children considered Thai or Chinese? I was wondering because my great-grandparents (on both sides) are originally from China, but my grandparents and both my parents were born in Thailand (and I was born in America). So does that make me/them Thai or Chinese?

[goctorsurger]

Well I could be wrong here but Thailand doesn't recognise Dual Nationality so I would imagine:

Your Great-Grandparents are Chinese
Your grandparents would have had a choice of being Thai or Chinese depending on where they lived.
Your parents are Thai or Chinese depending on what your grandparents classed themselves as (if your grandparents declared themselves to be Thai then your parents were also Thai)


You are American (not sure how old you are but I have heard that a child with Thai parents in the UK has to choose by the age of 16 or 18 whether they are going to be British or Thai and can't be both), I assume the USA works in a similar way... This isn't the way some countries work though, for example if my parents were British but I was born in Australia then I would be entitled to a British and an Australian passport and so would be both.


Or maybe I have just got confused but from an official standpoint I don't think you can have Dual Nationalities with one half being Thai

[Marinausa]

If you are speaking of nationality, I believe they would be Thai, at least after the 1st generation. If you are speaking of ethnicity, then Chinese-Thai.

Rightly said Susana.

I would like to add that there is also a cultural standpoint. If you are born and educated in America, the chance you are more American than Chinese or Thai. Do you celebrate Songkran and Chinese New Year?

The normal convention is "Ethnicity1 Ethnicity2 Nationality'. So you are Thai Chinese American, but to simplify things, it is better to call Asian American.

I am Chinese Malaysian. I can't change my Ethnicity but I may change my Nationality one day since the extremist Government party members always ask the Chinese Pigs to go back to China. Chaiyo.

[nTDsD0aU]

Yes, I was born and educated in America. We dont celebrate Chinese holidays b/c my parents don't consider themselves Chinese. We do celebrate a few Thai holidays like the New Year (I think) & a water festival but IDK what its called.

[Oswczrdz]

If you are speaking of nationality, I believe they would be Thai, at least after the 1st generation. If you are speaking of ethnicity, then Chinese-Thai.

I don't know at what point you would drop the 'Chinese', and become Thai. I suppose what you call yourself is taken from your self perception. Do you call yourself Thai American, Chinese Thai American, or American?

The Thai perception of immigrants, or long time residents/citizens of an other than Thai ethnicity may have changed since I lived there, so hopefully others can adress this also.

[nTDsD0aU]

Thanks for all the help.

Well for Smit, my grandparents live in Bangkok. I'm pretty sure they classified themselves as Thai (?) And I am not sure if the rule in the UK appiles here in the US.

I have always thought of myself as Thai-American.

[NutChusty]

If you have Chinese ancestry, have lived all your life in Thailand, but have adopted western culture such as dressing in western clothes. Just like all of us in Australia and in most countries around the world, we are now all American, because American movies and the media have influenced world wide culture so much, where all American.

[BUMbaronos]

Rightly said Susana.

I would like to add that there is also a cultural standpoint. If you are born and educated in America, the chance you are more American than Chinese or Thai. Do you celebrate Songkran and Chinese New Year?

The normal convention is "Ethnicity1 Ethnicity2 Nationality'. So you are Thai Chinese American, but to simplify things, it is better to call Asian American.

I am Chinese Malaysian. I can't change my Ethnicity but I may change my Nationality one day since the extremist Government party members always ask the Chinese Pigs to go back to China. Chaiyo.

I've been reading the news too, there's so much politics going on over there just like Bangkok. -_-' sigh.

[RagonaCon]

Does it matter? I know someone who is Chinese during Chinese New Year, Thai during Song Kran, Muslim every Friday and Hari Raya days, and Christian during Christmas. In fact, if you can give him holiday for deevapali, he'll convert to Hindu in an instant.


Nah, I'm just kidding. I don't know anyone like that.

[themsrsdude]

Thailand does in fact recognize dual citizenship.

Anyway I think every thai I met, of chinese heritage, have been very proud of this and seldom fail to mention it even in quite casual conversation.

[Marinausa]

I've been reading the news too, there's so much politics going on over there just like Bangkok. -_-' sigh.

Racial politics are dirtier and more dangerous. It can get out of hand. Whether the Chinese Malaysian get involved or not, some how, they got dragged into it. A bogey man when the politicians want to gain mileage. The spicy news are in http://www.malaysia-today.net by Raja Petra Kamaruddin. He is fighter for Malaysian Malaysia.

In Thailand, the Chinese are safe if they don't get into politics. Singaporean are same too if you don't question "one nation under Lee".

My daughter has taken up Singapore Citizenship. Soon my son who studied under Asean Scholarship.

[Marinausa]

Yes, I was born and educated in America. We dont celebrate Chinese holidays b/c my parents don't consider themselves Chinese. We do celebrate a few Thai holidays like the New Year (I think) & a water festival but IDK what its called.

Haha, you are Thai then. Many of my Chinese Thai Friends consider themselves as Thai First, then Chinese. Only when they get to know you then they will confide with you that they have Chinese ancestry.