Since the start of the latest global financial crisis, Beijing has been having a ball gloating at the plight of the West. But if the American dream has truly been strangled by a noose of debt – as the Chinese government seems to think – then why is emigration still so attractive to so many Chinese?

　　自从最近这次全球金融危机爆发以来，对于西方的困境，中国政府一直有一种幸灾乐祸的心情。然而，如果“美国梦”真的已被债务绞索勒死（中国政府似乎就是这么认为的），为什么移民仍然吸引着那么多的中国人？

　　According to the Blue Book of Overseas Chinese published on Monday in Beijing, since 1978 total emigration from China has exceeded 4.5m.

　　根据周一在北京发布的《华侨华人研究报告(2011)》蓝皮书(Blue Book of Overseas Chinese)，自1978年以来，中国海外移民数量可能达450万人以上。

　　What’s more, the report (which is issued by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, China’s cabinet) says Chinese who have left the motherland are on top of the world overseas: one third of the founders or senior executives in Silicon Valley, the US high technology mecca, are of Chinese origin.

　　而且，这份由国务院侨务办公室发布的报告称，与其他国家的移民相比，海外华人具有独特优势：在美国“高科技圣地”硅谷，由华侨华人创办或担任首席执行官的公司约占三分之一。

　　Even more surprising: this is not just a phenomenon of the 1980s or 1990s, when any Chinese with a bit of ambition was headed overseas to study, if not to stay. According to a recent study by Bain & Co, as many as 60 per cent of the Chinese rich (defined as having a net worth of US$ 1.5m or more) have decided to emigrate or are considering doing so – even now, when the rest of the world is flocking to China to get rich.

　　更令人惊讶的是：这并不只是上世纪八、九十年代的现象。当时，凡是有点抱负的中国人，不是移民海外，就是出国留学。根据贝恩(Bain & Co)近期的一份报告，多达60%的中国富人（资产净值在150万美元以上）或者已经决定、或者正在考虑移民——虽说在当下，世界其他地区的人都蜂拥至中国发财致富。

　　The Chinese wealthy are thinking about “investment immigration” – which requires them to invest a large sum of money in one of those debt traps that Beijing likes to deride. Bain found that, among those with net worth above $15m, 27 per cent have already completed immigration formalities to jump ship.

　　中国富人正在考虑“投资移民”，这要求他们在那些老被中国政府嘲笑为“债务陷阱”的国家投资一大笔钱。贝恩发现，在净资产在1500万美元以上的群体中，27%的人已经办完了移民手续。

　　Last week Australia said China overtook the UK to become the country’s biggest source of migrants. And a recent Xinhua news agency report said 2m mainlanders had obtained permanent residency in the US.

　　澳大利亚上周宣布，中国已取代英国，成为澳大利亚第一大移民来源。另外，据新华社最近报道，中国大陆地区已有200万人拿到了美国绿卡。

　　Maybe the tide will reverse, now that America has been laid low yet again by the profligacy of its citizens. But don’t bet on it.

　　这股潮流或许会逆转——既然美国已再一次被国民的肆意挥霍挫伤了元气。不过这也难说。