African Ambassadors Send Protest Letter to China... China Calms with "We Are Friends and Brothers" (Summary)

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' conciliatory statement toward Africa was revealed to be in response to letters sent by various African countries protesting discriminatory treatment in COVID-19 prevention measures by China.

On the 13th, major foreign media reported that African ambassadors stationed in China recently sent a letter to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs protesting the Guangdong provincial government's discrimination against people of African descent during the COVID-19 prevention process.

The group of African ambassadors demanded, "Immediately stop forced testing, quarantine, and other inhumane measures against Africans." They also mentioned cases of passport confiscation, visa cancellation threats, arrests, and deportations. They protested, saying, "Stigmatization and discrimination are creating the false perception that the virus is spreading from Africa."

The protest letter was delivered to Wang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China, and copies were also sent to the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) and foreign ministers of various African countries.

However, the statement released under spokesperson Zhao Lijian's name on the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website the previous night only contained general remarks emphasizing that China maintains good relations with Africa and takes Africa's concerns about COVID-19 seriously, promising to improve the situation. There was no mention of the protest letter sent by the African ambassadors, nor any specific reference to the discriminatory acts pointed out by African diplomats within China.

The statement released by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "China and Africa are good friends, partners, and brothers. Our friendship has been built over decades based on joint efforts for national independence, national liberation, economic development, and improvement of people's livelihoods. It is a precious relationship forged through enduring hardships together."

The statement emphasized that China was one of the first countries to provide support after the Ebola outbreak in three West African countries in 2014, and explained that during the current COVID-19 outbreak, China and Africa have been mutually supporting each other with medical supplies and encouragement, demonstrating their unwavering friendship. It added, "Currently, facing the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Africa are once again joining hands to overcome difficulties, and our friendship is rising again."

While mentioning the friendly relations between China and Africa, the statement also explained that the strict measures recently taken by China during COVID-19 prevention were unavoidable steps to prevent the spread of the virus. The statement said, "Currently, China has made remarkable progress in preventing the spread of COVID-19 through comprehensive, strict, and thorough measures, but still faces risks of imported cases from abroad and internal resurgence. The Chinese government values the lives and health of foreigners, treating all foreigners equally. We will not tolerate any discrimination."

It also stated, "The Guangdong provincial government places great importance on treating COVID-19 patients of foreign nationality, including African nationals. We take the concerns of some African countries very seriously and are expediting improvements related to these issues. China will treat its African friends fairly, justly, kindly, and amicably. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to actively respond to the legitimate demands of African countries through close contact with the Guangdong provincial government."

The racial discrimination controversy began after five COVID-19 confirmed cases of Nigerian nationality were reported in areas within Guangdong where many Africans reside. At Guangzhou No. 8 People's Hospital, a 47-year-old Nigerian man refused to undergo blood testing and attempted to leave the quarantine area, assaulting a nurse who tried to stop him.

Earlier, Western media such as the US CNN and AFP reported that cases of discrimination against Africans and other Black people in China have frequently occurred under the pretext of COVID-19 prevention. They pointed out that even without contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients, Black people were being evicted from their homes, denied hotel reservations, or forced into 14-day self-quarantine simply because of their race.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.