RAO DAI

PhD Student

Research Title: Mediating Belonging and Diplomacy: Chinese New Migrant Associations, Identity, and Digital Engagement in Singapore
Research Group: Social and Cultural Geography (SCG)
Thesis Advisor: Professor Elaine Ho

My research examines how Chinese new migrant associations in Singapore shape migrant integration and belonging while engaging in forms of diaspora diplomacy. Focusing on different cohorts of new Chinese migrants, the study explores how associations use digital platforms and offline activities to negotiate identity, community, and transnational ties. By situating these practices within Singapore’s civic-based national framework and the geopolitically sensitive Southeast Asian context, the research seeks to understand how everyday associational practices link local integration with broader Singapore–China relations.