HILD 12 Week 2 discussion

Q: How can you use the concept of settler colonialism to construct a new map of East Asia that links the histories of Hawaii and China to US and Japanese imperialism? What happens when you add the Caribbean and British imperialism to the mix (think back to Goffe)?

A: Settler colonialism is a type of colonialism where the colonizers seek to settle and replace the indigenous population while simultaneously eliminating indigenous means of production (Saranillo). In the US, the Chinese immigrants and Native Hawaiians comprised 2 minority groups within the majority white American society. During the 19th century, the US had begun its colonization of the Kingdom of Hawaii and even began importing laborers (many of which were Chinese immigrants who had settled in California). With the impeding threat of Japanese imperialism, the US illegally annexed Hawaii to maintain a strategic military base at the cost of the native population and Chinese minority.

This exemplifies how East Asia extends beyond the physical territory of China, Japan, and Korea. Imperialism and colonialism forced East Asia to extend beyond its physical boundaries, bringing East Asian culture to new lands, such as the Caribbean and Hawaii. As a result of imperialism and capitalism, East Asian immigrants were pushed to the bottom of society but also forced into competition with other minorities (especially in Hawaii). Settler colonialism forced Chinese immigrants, as well as indigenous populations (Jamaicans, Native Hawaiians), to form new livelihoods outside of their original means of production.