Diplomacy: More Details about Africans Being Targeted in Guangzhou

The Guangzhou government has targeted Africans living there during the coronavirus containment, which led many African countries’ to protest. Here are more details about the incidents.

#1: A Nigerian’s refusing medical checkup and biting a nurse. On April 1, Okonkwonwoye Chika Patrick, male, 47, a Nigerian citizen, was confirmed to have the coronavirus infection and was isolated at the Guangzhou No 8 Hospital. He ignored Nurse Wang’s request for blood test and tried to walk out of the isolation room. Wang tried to stop him, but he pushed her to the ground and bit her face. The Guangzhou police came to investigate the case. (Caijing)

#2: Local people started discriminating against Africans. The biting nurse incident stirred up a wave of anti-African sentiment among Chinese. There was a rumor that “300,000 blacks in Guangzhou were causing the second epidemic outbreak” which was spreading. Five out of the eight confirmed infection cases in the Yuexiu District (nicknamed “Little Africa”), in Guangzhou were Nigerian. Local police ordered bars and restaurants not to serve Africans. The Local government also imposed forced-testing and forced-quarantine on people who had contacts with Africans. Some Africans were driven out of their homes and could not find a place to stay as every place was closed to them. (Epoch Times)

#3: A McDonald’s restaurant in Guangzhou posted a notice: “We’ve been informed that from now on black people are not allowed to enter the restaurant. For the sake of your health consciously notify the local police for medical isolation. Please understand the inconvenience caused.” McDonald China admitted the incident and later offered an apology. (Oriental Daily)

#4: In addition to protests coming from Nigeria and the Africa Union, Ghana summoned the Chinese Ambassador. In a public statement Ghana’s Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchway condemned the “inhuman encounters suffered by Africans in Guangzhou.” She expressed “disappointment” to the Chinese government and asked China to take immediate action to solve this problem.

The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that there was an irresponsible phenomenon against foreigners in Guangzhou. Many Guangzhou business owners targeted African citizens especially.

The Sierra Leone Embassy in Beijing also issued a statement to “expresses strong concern and condemnation for the disturbing and humiliating experience of our citizens.” It said that 14 citizens of the country had been put under 14 days of forced-quarantine. (Zhihu)

#5: A Twitter message said that the Guangzhou Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau issued “The Implementation Plan on Providing Basic Livelihood Services to Foreigners with Financial Stress during the Health Service Management Period.” The plan is said to provide a subsidy of 5,600 yuan (US $790) to every foreigner who has financial stress. (Twitter)

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