On 22 April 1955, in Bandung during the Asian–African Conference, Zhou Enlai and Sunario sign the Agreement on Dual Nationality between the People’s Republic of China and Indonesia.

The text forces Chinese Indonesians with dual nationality to choose one citizenship, ending the historic clash between Chinese jus sanguinis (Qing law of 1909, reaffirmed by the Republic of China in 1929) and Dutch colonial jus soli of 1910.

Authentic languages: Chinese and Indonesian. Entry into force: 20 January 1960 after exchange of instruments of ratification in Beijing. The treaty expired on 20 January 1980.

Indonesian ratification was delayed by cabinet crises and opposition from Muslim and socialist parties; the DPR ratified in December 1957. China ratified through the NPC Standing Committee on 30 December 1957.

The June 1955 Ali Sastroamidjojo–Zhou notes clarified that some persons whose social-political position was clearly Indonesian could be treated as holding a single nationality without the option procedure.

The full text is on Wikisource. The treaty tested China’s diaspora policy and Indonesia’s stance toward the Chinese minority after independence.

The Sino-Indonesian Dual Nationality Treaty of 22 April 1955 remains the Bandung accord that forced a choice of one nationality.

Image: Bandung; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Sino-Indonesian Dual Nationality Treaty. Treaty text: Agreement on Dual Nationality (Wikisource).