Through　investigation　of　a　mass　incident　to　resist　the　ecological　ruin　of　an　emigrant　Chinese　village　in　the　early　2000s,　this　article　analyses　the　logic　of　governmentality　underlying　the　flow　of　communication　and　supervision　during　resolution　of　a　pollution　protest.　This　case　study　demonstrates　how　emphasis　was　placed　not　on　personalistic　social　ties　but　on　organisational　relationships.　In　examining　the　key　role　that　overseas　Chinese　organisations　played　in　resolving　this　case,　this　article　reveals　the　governing　principle　of　＂diplomatic　priority＂.　And　due　to　the　governing　principles　underlying　＂territory　management＂,　self:　reservation　leads　local　officials　to　shirk　from　administrative　responsibility.　Fear　of　responsibility　and　joint　liability　functions　as　a　roadblock　in　the　flow　o　legitimate　information,　and　can　lead　to　covering　up　or　suppressing　lawful　environmental　concerns,　thereby　hampering　the　timely　resolution　of　the　issue.