Though Chinese people can now be found in most African countries, there's a claim that some commentators and media outlets make: that they hold themselves apart from their host societies.

We found that - like all migrants - factors affecting Chinese integration include local political environment, recentness of migration, language barriers, and corporate policies to mitigate crime and conflict.

For instance, our field research in Zambia found that the Chinese mine construction firm TLZD had policies whereby Chinese employees were not allowed out at night for their safety, but also because - due to language barriers - misunderstandings can lead to fights.

For instance, one Kenyan journalist based in Beijing observed that some large firms only hire Chinese "with a solid understanding of local African languages."

For instance, Chinese retailers have much more engagement, with a variety of people such as local employees, customers, or partners.