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The United States on Saturday accused Chinese authorities of “xenophobia” towards Africans after coronavirus cases among Nigerians unleashed a wave of evictions in the city of Guangzhou.
Africans in the largest metropolis in southern China told AFP that they had been expelled from the accommodation and then rejected from hotels over suspicions raised by the Nigerian cases.
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“The abuse and mistreatment of Africans living and working in China is a sad reminder of how hollow the partnership between China and Africa really is,” said a State Department spokesman, using the acronym for the People’s Republic of China.
“At a time when we should support each other to recover from a pandemic, officials in the People’s Republic of China recklessly hid from the world, Chinese officials are busy evicting African students to the streets without food or shelter.”
In recent weeks, the United States denounced Beijing’s lack of transparency at the start of the coronavirus epidemic, which was first detected in late 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan, and said it delayed action in the rest of the world. and caused thousands of deaths.
War of words
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Despite a recent truce in their war of words, skirmishes have continued between the two world powers already locked in a long-term strategic confrontation.
“It is unfortunate but not surprising to see this type of xenophobia towards Africans by the Chinese authorities,” added the State Department spokesman.
“Anyone who sees Chinese involvement in projects in Africa recognizes this type of abusive and manipulative behavior.”
The deal that Africans in Guangzhou also expressed on Saturday an expression of “extreme concern” by the president of the African Union.
Since taking office in 2017, the administration of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, has shown little interest in Africa.
But he has repeatedly warned of China’s intentions on the continent, arguing that his investments and loans to African countries are unfriendly.
“The promises made to Africans, including those who work and study in China, are never kept as advertised,” said the State Department spokesman.
“Treating people, especially students, in this way during a global public health crisis says everything about how the PRC views its so-called ‘partnership’ with Africa.”
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