Since the end of the Second World War, international relations have changed dramatically, with new
actors playing a more significant role in global affairs. This situation has evolved even further since the
onset of liberalisation, during which multinational corporations have influenced governmental policies,
leading to a globalised world. In this globalised context, numerous individuals have migrated from one
country to another. This migration has given rise to a transnational system that seeks to examine
dynamics beyond state-centric international relations. Transnationalism is a multifaceted field that can
both unite and disrupt connections among nations. While transnationalism encompasses the role of
nation-states in economic, financial, and political activities, it also broadens the scope for cross-border
migration of individuals. The proposed study will analyse the theoretical contours of transnationalism,
assess the historical background of migration, and explore the multiple identities associated with
migration. This study will examine a few case studies of migrants in the Indo-Pacific region.

This article argues that although many contemporary scholars in Thailand depict the overseas Chinese and
new Chinese migrants as totally distinct, their actual impact on Thai society and the state has not been as
different as these scholars suggest. The real distinction between the two is that the new Chinese immigrants to Thailand have been more influenced by the CCP regime in China, the strengthening Thailand-China relations, and their changing worldviews. This sets them apart from the overseas Chinese who immigrated to Thailand before them. The article begins with the illustration of some similarity between the two Chinese migration waves. Then, it discusses various factors that give the new Chinese migrants distinct characteristics from the old wave of overseas Chinese. Finally, it reflects the impact of the new Chinese migration to the ‘inconvenience’ borders in the Indo-Pacific region