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Some people of African descent claimed to have been evicted from their homes by the owners.
Recently, hundreds of residents of African descent living in Guangzhou, China were expelled from their homes, forced quarantined, and their passports confiscated without being diagnosed with new coronary pneumonia. The United States claims that African Americans in Guangzhou are also discriminated against and that the hotel does not do business with African Americans. The African Union and many African countries have expressed concern about the situation of people of African descent in Guangzhou and have strongly condemned discrimination and inhumane treatment of local Africans.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that there were “some situations and misunderstandings” in the implementation of the measures against the epidemic. China attaches great importance to it and “will urge the relevant parties to improve the mechanism and working methods,” stressing that China and Africa will support each other and work together to combat the epidemic.
Afro-displacement
Some Afro-descendants living in Guangzhou told the BBC that hundreds of Afro-descendant residents and businessmen were discriminated against in Guangzhou and expelled from their homes and hotels, respectively. Some people say they have been forced to quarantine before being tested.
Since the beginning of April on the Internet, images have circulated of the displacement of African-American residents in Guangzhou and the repression of African-Americans by police officers.
Tobenna Victor, a Nigerian student, said the locals accused them of being infected with the new coronavirus: “We paid the rent, but after collecting it, we were expelled. We will sleep on the street for one night.”
Lunde Isidore, a businessman from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said authorities had sent people to his home to quarantine him. It was said that there was a result in one day, but there was still no news after one day.
Another video that caught the attention of African and Chinese netizens showed that an officer believed to be the Nigerian consulate in Guangzhou had an argument with Chinese police officials and demanded the return of several confiscated passports. He said that Nigerian passports belong to the Nigerian government and that no country has the right to confiscate them, but must treat them equally without discrimination.
According to the American Cable News Network, neither the Chinese nor the whites in Guangzhou were subjected to this special treatment, and some African-Americans were expelled from their residences, which appeared to be the owner’s decision, not the government’s agreement.
Around 300,000 people of African descent live in Guangzhou, China. Why did residents of African descent suddenly become targets? One reason is that China has recently focused its epidemic prevention on imported cases abroad, and another reason is that some people of African descent have violated the anti-epidemic order.
In early April, a Nigerian rejected isolation after being diagnosed and injured a nurse at Guangzhou Eighth People’s Hospital. In addition, four Nigerians were diagnosed after arriving in Guangzhou from abroad: They had eaten at a restaurant on Mineral Spring Street in Yuexiu District, and about 200 close contacts needed to be isolated.
These incidents prompted authorities to quarantine African-Americans, and may also cause some homeowners to worry about the risk of African-American tenants transmitting the virus. There were rumors of “Guangzhou black thunder” (that is, causing a large-scale community infection) on the Internet, which may “shut down the village,” but the Guangzhou Public Security Bureau immediately denied that the relevant information was a Rumor, and the 35-year-old man who released the information has been investigated and punished.
Image copyright
Isidoro de Lunde Okulunge
Businessman Lunde Isidore (Lunde Isidore) said authorities had sent people to his home to quarantine him, but the result was delayed.
It eclipsed China-Africa relations
The US Embassy USA It issued a security warning titled “African Americans Discriminated in Guangzhou” on Saturday, stating that “local police ordered bars and restaurants to stop serving customers who resemble Africans,” and also referred to local officials who They demanded people related to Africans. Mandatory quarantine and self-isolation, some stores and hotels refuse to do business with African Americans.
Chinese officials have neither publicly acknowledged nor denied the proposed or implemented measures the US side said.
Many African countries voiced their concerns to China. Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Senegal and the African Union have issued statements or summoned Chinese ambassadors about the incident, paying attention to the rights and interests of Africans in Guangzhou and strongly condemning local Africans for harassment, insult and discrimination. They agree that China needs to take strict epidemic prevention measures, but the process should not be discriminatory.
Kenyan MP Moses Kuria asked Kenyan citizens in China to return to their homes. Nigerian House Speaker Femi Gbajabimila posted a video of his meeting with Chinese Ambassador to China Zhou Pingjian on the social media site. Mila Gabajabia said she was saddened by the incident and that she could not tolerate the inappropriate treatment of Nigerians in China. He showed Zhou Pingjian on the spot that there were conflicts between African Americans and local law enforcement personnel. Zhou Pingjian said he would take it seriously.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian responded to the matter on April 9, saying the Chinese government treats all foreigners in China equally and opposes any differentiated practice targeting specific groups of people, and has zero tolerance for discriminatory words and deeds. The most urgent task is to avoid imports abroad and internal rebounds. It requires the understanding and cooperation of foreign personnel in China. There are some situations and misunderstandings in the implementation of measures. China attaches great importance to it and urges relevant parties to improve its working mechanisms and methods.
He said that when the Chinese people resisted the epidemic earlier, the African countries and people provided strong solidarity and support. The Chinese side is aware that the Chinese government and people are now actively assisting Africa within their capacity. China and Africa will be more united than ever. It shows the brotherhood of suffering.
China has always presented itself as a friend to African countries and peoples. At the beginning of this outbreak, many African countries have praised the speed of China’s handling of the epidemic. However, there is a strong contrast between the people and the government, and the phenomenon of Chinese exclusion in some parts of Africa has accused China. In the early stages of the outbreak, concealment was involved, which led to the spread of the outbreak and brought the virus to Africa.
Although the current epidemic in Africa is not as severe as in Europe and the United States, experts warned that once the outbreak broke out, the local medical system would be difficult to bear. China has provided medical equipment and supplies and other support to many African countries. In general, African governments have welcomed them. However, Nigeria and Ghana have voices about the quality of the materials provided by China. The government should take the initiative to affirm the safety of Chinese materials and medicines. The Health Care Association is opposed to China sending doctors to the local area, saying that there are already many unemployed doctors in the local area who can participate in treatment work, and that Chinese doctors should not be able to replace their work.
African countries are concerned that their economies will be affected by the epidemic and hope that China can help. Ghanaian officials called on China to reduce the debt burden of African countries, and Blessings Ramoba, chairman of the South African Mining Forum, said African economies have been badly affected and urged the Chinese government to cancel its debts.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian replied that China attaches great importance to the challenges facing low-income countries and is willing to maintain communication with relevant countries through bilateral channels to assist countries. low-income people to adequately face debt risk problems. Communication and consultation.
