List of Chinese diaspora people
This is a list of notable people with Chinese ancestry living outside of the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China.
Leaders and politicians
Africa
- Jean Ping, President of the African Union, Gabon
- Jean AhChuen, Minister, Mauritius
- Mark Fok Seung, politician, Mauritius
Asia
- Corazon Aquino, President of the Philippines-ethnic Chinese ancestry Philippines
- Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, Governor of Jakarta, Indonesia
- Steve Chia, politician, Singapore
- Chia Thye Poh, communist activist, Singapore
- Chiam See Tong, politician, Singapore
- Chin Peng, communist leader, Malaysia
- Chong Eng, politician, Malaysia
- Chung Keng Quee (Zheng Jinggui: 1827 to 13 December 1901), Kapitan China of Perak & Penang, Perak State Councillor, Malaysia
- Chung Thye Phin, Kapitan China of Perak, Perak State Councillor
- Chung Thye Yong, Tin miner, rubber planter and businessman
- Chung Kok Ming, Federal Councillor, Federated Malay States
- Arthur Chung, former president, Guyana
- Fong Kui Lun, politician, Malaysia
- Fong Po Kuan, politician, Malaysia
- Goh Chok Tong, Senior Minister, Singapore
- Goh Keng Swee, politician, Singapore
- Hon Sui Sen, politician, Singapore
- Khaw Boon Wan, politician, Singapore
- Koh Tsu Koon, politician, Malaysia
- Teresa Kok Suh Sim, politician, Malaysia
- Lee Hsien Loong, prime minister, Singapore
- Lee Kuan Yew, Minister Mentor, Singapore
- Lee Lam Thye, politician, Malaysia
- Lee Siew Choh, politician, Singapore
- Alfredo Lim, politician, Philippines
- Lim Chin Siong, politician, Singapore
- Lim Chong Eu, politician, Malaysia
- Lim Guan Eng, politician, Malaysia
- Lim Keng Yaik, politician, Malaysia
- Lim Kim San, politician, Singapore
- Lim Kit Siang, politician, Malaysia
- Lim Yew Hock, politician, Singapore
- Ling How Doong, politician, Singapore
- Ne Win, former head of state, Myanmar
- Low Thia Khiang, politician, Singapore
- Ong Ka Ting, politician, Malaysia
- Ong Teng Cheong, former president, Singapore
- Jesse Robredo, politician, Philippines
- Tan Chee Khoon, politician, Malaysia
- Seow Poh Leng, founder of the pre-WWII Ho Hong Bank
- Tan Cheng Lock, politician, Malaysia
- Tan Kim Ching, Kapitan China, consul for Japan, Thailand and Russia, member of the Royal Court of Siam, Singapore
- Tan Seng Giaw, politician, Malaysia
- Tan Siew Sin, politician, Malaysia
- Thaksin Shinawatra, former Prime Minister, Thailand
- Banharn Silpa-Archa, 21st Prime Minister of Thailand, Thailand
- Chuan Leekpai, former Prime Minister of Thailand, Thailand
- Chamlong Srimuang, politician & founder of Phalang Dharma Party, Thailand
- Somkid Jatusripitak, former finance minister, Thailand
- Boonchu Rojanastien, former finance minister, Thailand
- Teresa Kok Suh Sim, politician, Malaysia
- Tony Tan Keng Yam, President, Singapore
- Teo Chee Hean, politician, Singapore
- Anote Tong, president, Kiribati
- Wee Kim Wee, former president, Singapore
- Pansy Wong, politician, New Zealand
- Yap Ah Loy, headman, Malaysia
- Pol Pot, dictator of Cambodia, Cambodia
- Son Sen, Pol Pot's right-hand man, Cambodia
- Ta Mok, Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge Central Committee, Cambodia
- Khieu Samphan, Pol Pot's Deputy Khmer Rouge politician, Cambodia
- Kang Kek Iew, Khmer Rouge leader, Cambodia
- Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia
Australasia
- John So, Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Australia
- Kenneth Wang, politician, New Zealand
- Penny Wong, politician, Australia
Europe
- Steven Dominique Cheung, Young Advisors for Her Majesty's Government and Youngest Candidates For European Parliament
- Michael Chan, Baron Chan, physician and member of the House of Lords
- Lydia Dunn, Baroness Dunn, deputy chairman and senior non-executive director of HSBC (since 1992)
- Anna Lo, social worker and Alliance Party Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Northern Ireland
North America
- Elaine Chao, United States Secretary of Transportation
- David S. C. Chu, Under Secretary of Defense for Readiness
- Jim Chu, Chief Constable of the Vancouver Police Department
- Steven Chu, United States Secretary of Energy
- Adrienne Clarkson, former Governor General of Canada
- March Fong Eu, Secretary of State of California
- Hiram L. Fong, former US Senator from Hawaii
- Matthew K. Fong, former California State Treasurer
- Edwin M. Lee, mayor of San Francisco
- John Liu, member of the New York City Council
- Gary Locke, former governor of Washington
- Shien Biau Woo, former attorney general and lieutenant governor of Delaware, current president of the 80-20 Initiative
- David Wu, US Representative from Oregon; first and only Chinese American US Representative
Artists and performers
Actors and actresses
- Jackie Chan, actor born in Hong Kong, works internationally, mainly in the United States
- Nadine Chandrawinata, actress, Indonesia
- Rosalind Chao, actress, United States
- Daphne Cheung, actress, United Kingdom
- Maggie Cheung, actress born in Hong Kong, raised in the UK, works mainly in Hong Kong and Europe
- Michelle Chong, actress, Singapore
- Michael Chow Man-Kin, actor born in Canada, based in Hong Kong
- Joe Taslim, actor, Indonesia
- Kam Fong Chun, actor, United States
- Alexa Chung, TV presenter, England
- Heart Evangelista, actress, Philippines
- Benson Fong, actor, United States
- Jessica Henwick, actress, England
- James Hong, actor, United States
- Takeshi Kaneshiro, actor, Japan
- Burt Kwouk, actor, born in England
- Bruce Lee, actor and martial arts master born in San Francisco, worked in Hong Kong and the United States
- Brandon Lee, actor born in Oakland, California; son of Bruce Lee
- Shannon Lee, actress born in Los Angeles; daughter of Bruce Lee
- Katie Leung, actress, Scotland
- Baim Wong, actor, Indonesia
- Lucy Liu, actress, born in New York City
- Richard Loo, actor, United States
- Keye Luke, actor, United States
- Agnes Monica, actress, Indonesia
- Olivia Munn, actress and TV presenter, United States
- Haing S. Ngor, actor, born in Cambodia, worked in the United States
- Harry Shum, Jr., actor, United States
- Zoe Tay, actress, Singapore
- Garrett Richard Wang, actor, United States
- Benedict Wong, actor, United Kingdom
- Fann Wong, actress, Singapore
- Michelle Yeoh, actress, Malaysia
- Victor Sen Yung, actor, United States
Filmmakers
- Lionel Chok, Singapore
- Tze Chun, United States
- Teguh Karya, born Steve Liem Tjoan Hok, Indonesia
- Ang Lee, United States
- James Lee, Malaysia
- Tsai Ming-liang, Malaysia
- Tan Chui Mui, Malaysia
- Jack Neo, Singapore
- Royston Tan, Singapore
- James Wong, United States
- James Wan, Australia
Musicians
- Jin Au-Yeung, United States
- Gary Cao, Malaysia
- Jose Mari Chan, Philippines
- Kit Chan, Singapore
- Angelica Lee, Malaysia
- Agnez Mo, Indonesia
- Maia Lee, Singapore
- Fish Leong, Malaysia
- JJ Lin, Singapore
- Eric Moo, Malaysia
- Sylvester Sim, Singapore
- Stefanie Sun, Singapore
- Penny Tai, Malaysia
- Vienna Teng, United States
- Nicholas Teo, Malaysia
- Yo Yo Ma, United States
- Michael Wong, Malaysia
- Titi DJ, Indonesia
Comedians
- Raybon Kan, comedian, columnist, New Zealand
Video game designers
- Jenova Chen, United States
Voice actors
- Kaiji Tang, United States
Athletes
- Michael Chang, tennis player, United States
- Ang Peng Siong, swimmer, Singapore
- Alan Budikusuma, badminton, Olympic gold medalist, Indonesia
- Chan Chong Ming, badminton player, Malaysia
- Chew Choon Eng, badminton player, Malaysia
- Choong Tan Fook, badminton player, Malaysia
- Rudy Hartono, badminton legend, Indonesia
- Pi Hongyan, badminton player, France
- Goh Tat Chuan, footballer, Singapore
- He Zhi Wen, table tennis, Spain
- Jeremy Lin, nba basketball player, United States
- Lee Chong Wei, badminton player, Malaysia
- Lee Wan Wah, badminton player, Malaysia
- Li Jiawei, table tennis player, Singapore
- Li Li, badminton player, Singapore
- Liem Swie King, badminton legend, Indonesia
- Lim Eng Beng, basketball player, Philippines
- Samboy Lim, basketball player, Philippines
- Wong Mew Choo, badminton player, Malaysia
- Ng Ser Miang, sailor, Singapore
- Sadaharu Oh, baseball player, Japan
- Remy Ong, bowling player, Singapore
- Poh Seng Song, athlete, Singapore
- Susi Susanti, badminton, Olympic gold medalist, Indonesia
- Ho-Pin Tung, race driver, Netherlands
- Xu Huaiwen, athlete, Germany
- Jiang Yanmei, badminton player, Singapore
- Jing Jun Hong, table tennis player, Singapore
- Wong Choong Hann, badminton player Malaysia
- Yao Jie, badminton player, Netherlands
- Alex Yoong, race driver, Malaysia
- Li Donghua, gymnastics, Switzerland
- Michelle Kwan, figure skater, United States
- Patrick Chan, figure skater, Canada
- Jeremy Ten, figure skater, Canada
- Beatrisa Liang, figure skater, United States
- Caroline Zhang, figure skater, United States
- Tiffany Chin, figure skater, United States
- Christina Gao, figure skater, United States
- Nathan Chen, figure skater, United States
- Karen Chen, figure skater, United States
- Vincent Zhou, figure skater, United States
- Shaoang Liu, speed skater, Hungary
- Shaolin Sándor Liu, speed skater, Hungary
Businesspeople
- Jeffrey Cheah, Malaysia
- William Cheng, Malaysia
- Ho Ching, Singapore
- Jimmy Choo, Malaysia
- Khoo Teck Puat, Singapore
- Robert Kuok, Malaysia
- Lucio Tan, Philippines
- Kwek Leng Beng, Singapore
- Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr., Philippines
- Lim Goh Tong, Malaysia
- Olivia Lum, Singapore
- Quek Leng Chan, Malaysia
- Sudono Salim, entrepreneur, Indonesia
- Low Kiok Chiang, Singapore, Thailand
- John Gokongwei, Philippines
- Seow Poh Leng, Singapore
- Henry Sy, Philippines
- Vincent Tan, Malaysia
- Tan Kim Ching, Malaysia
- Teh Hong Piow, Malaysia
- Tiong Hiew King, Malaysia
- Lilian Too, Malaysia
- George Ty, Philippines
- Francis Yeoh, Malaysia
- Rebekah Yeoh, Malaysia
- Ruth Yeoh, Malaysia
- Yeoh Tiong Lay, Malaysia
- Tony Tan Caktiong, Philippines
- Jerry Yang, United States
- Alfonso Yuchengco, Philippines
- Loh Boon Siew, Malaysia
- Sondhi Limthongkul, Thailand
Law
- Mai Chen, constitutional lawyer, New Zealand
- Denny Chin, judge, United States
- Kwa Geok Choo, Singapore
- Claudio Teehankee, Philippines
- Woon Cheong Ming Walter, Singapore
- Wee Chong Jin, Singapore
- Albino SyCip, banker and lawyer, Philippines
- Thomas Tang, judge, United States
- Pedro Yap, Philippines
Military officers and soldiers
- General Vicente Lim, Philippines
- Captain Francis B. Wai, United States
- James Yee, military chaplain, United States
Religious leaders
- Jaime Sin, Roman Catholic Cardinal Archbishop, Philippines
- Stephen Tong, Indonesian Reformed Evangelist, Indonesia
- Hussein Ye, Islamic preacher and scholar, Malaysia
Seamen
- Lim Poon BEM, shipwreck survivor
Writers, poets and artists
Asia
- Aaron Lee, Singapore
- Russell Lee, Singapore
- Catherine Lim, Singapore
- Shirley Geok-lin Lim, Malaysia
- Su-Chen Christine Lim, Singapore
- Tan Swie Hian, Singapore
Australasia
- Jack Yan, publisher, author, New Zealand
- Grace Chin, columnist, Malaysia
Europe
- François Cheng, writer, France
- Gao Xingjian, writer, France
- Jung Chang, author, United Kingdom
- Timothy Mo, author, United Kingdom
- Helen Tse, author, United Kingdom
- Xiaolu Guo, author, United Kingdom
- Tash Aw, writer, United Kingdom
United States
- Amy Chua, author and professor of law
- Gish Jen, author
- Ha Jin, author
- Jean Kwok, author
- Laura Ling, journalist
- Lisa Ling, journalist
- Amy Tan, author
- Helen Zia, journalist
Scientists, engineers, medicine
- Min Chueh Chang, reproductive biologist, United States
- Victor Chang, surgeon, Australia
- Steven Chu, scientist, 1997 Nobel Prize winner in Physics, United States
- Kevin Fong, space physiologist, United Kingdom
- David Ho, AIDS researcher, United States
- Wen Ho Lee, scientist, United States
- Ken Yeang, architect, Malaysia
- Chang-Lin Tien, engineer and previous Chancellor of UC Berkeley, United States
- Chern Shiing-shen, mathematician, United States
- Da-Wen Sun, engineer, Ireland
- Terence Tao, mathematician, Fields Medal winner, Australia
- Shing-Tung Yau, mathematician, Fields Medal winner, United States
- An Wang, computer engineer, United States
- Kai-Fu Lee, computer scientist, United States
Art, design, culinary
- Amber Chia, international model, Malaysia
- Jimmy Choo, designer, Malaysia
- Chen Kenichi, chef, Japan
- Ming Tsai, chef, United States
- Ling Tan, model, Malaysia
- Vivienne Tam, fashion designer, United States
- Zang Toi, fashion designer, Malaysia
- Ang Kiukok, artist, Philippines
- Maya Lin, artist and architect, United States
- Justin Quek, chef, Singapore
- John Clang / John C.L. Ang, photographer, Singapore
- Zao Wou Ki, painter, France
- I. M. Pei, architect, United States
- Alexander Wang, fashion designer, United States
- Poh Ling Yeow, celebrity chef, Australia
- Michelle Yeoh, fashion influencer, United Kingdom
- Rachel Yeoh, fashion influencer, United Kingdom