China’s eviction of Africans in that country has been described as xenophobia by the U S state department.
This follows cases of coronavirus discovered among some Nigerians living in that country. The discovery led to the forced quarantine of all Nigerians as well seizure of their international passports.
In addition, Africans were ordered out of their houses and hotels in Guangzhou. They were thereafter, seen roaming the streets in a viral video. In another video, a Nigerian diplomat was pictured protesting the maltreatment of Nigerians and demanding the return of their confiscated passports.
The U S has been in war of words accusing The peoples Republic of China (PRC) of lacking transparency since the outbreak of covid-19 in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The US accused China of insincerity in its handling of the initial cases of coronavirus disease, an action that has caused over 1.8 million infections and 112,247 deaths.
A US spokesman told AFP that “the abuse and mistreatment of Africans living and working in China is a sad reminder of how hollow the PRC-Africa partnership really is.”
On China’s eviction of Africans , he said that “at a time when we should be supporting one another to recover from a pandemic PRC officials recklessly hid from the world, Chinese officials are busy evicting African students into the streets without food or shelter.”
“It is unfortunate but not surprising to see this kind of xenophobia towards Africans by Chinese authorities.
“Anyone who watches Chinese engagement in projects across African recognises this kind of abusive and manipulative behaviour,” the US department spokesman added.
Continuing, he said that “promises made to Africans, including those who work and study in China are never kept as advertised.”
“To treat people, especially students this way during a global public health crisis says everything about how the PRC views they so-called partnership with Africa.”
AFP
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