This paper examines how Semarang Chinatown functions as a system of surveillance through which Chinese Indonesians negotiate passable identities in a Javanese-dominated society. It challenges static views of Chinatowns by framing the area as a dynamic space of identity negotiation shaped by spatial discipline, cultural adaptation and strategic visibility. Drawing on Foucault’s panopticism, Homi Bhabha’s hybridity, the concept of passable identity and ethnographic research, the study conceptualises Chinatown as a macro-institution supported by houses, temples, markets and informal spaces. Architectural forms, cultural narratives and community initiatives reveal how Chinese Indonesians balance cultural preservation with adaptation to achieve social acceptance. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for fostering urban inclusivity and safeguarding hybrid cultural heritage as part of Indonesia’s multicultural identity.
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