On Monday, February 28th, the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine issued a message to Chinese citizens in Ukraine.
The full message, which was published on social media platform Weibo by the Chinese state media outlet People’s Daily, is as follows (translation by What’s on Weibo):
Chinese Embassy’s Appeal to All Citizens in Ukraine
“At present, with the war between Ukraine and Russia continuing and the battle situation being uncertain, the safety situation in Ukraine is deteriorating and some of our Chinese citizens in Ukraine are running into practical difficulties. In light of this, some Chinese citizens’ associations and individuals have already started to mobilize to do all they can to help compatriots in difficult situations. This kind of assistance has played a positive role in alleviating the difficulties faced by our compatriots.
The Embassy highly praises these voluntary actions and believes that they reflect the fine tradition of the Chinese people being united in struggle, helping those in distress, and helping each other out. Please continue to do so. In the current challenging situation, especially considering the serious disruption to the supply of stores and city traffic, the mutual assistance of compatriots is the most direct, the most effective, and the most warm-hearted. Over the past years, the Chinese nation has continuously been put to the test, especially during an unprecedented covid19 epidemic that has brought huge development challenges. It is by relying on this great spirit of the Chinese people that we, under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, can overcome crises and challenges, and can welcome huge victories, which have led to the great glory of present-day China.
Fellow compatriots,
At present, the Chinese nation is more powerful and more united than ever before in history. We are marching with vigor on a new journey to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In this new era that is full of hope and youthful spirit, we must show the Chinese people’s style, no matter where we are, no matter under which conditions, we will let the image of the Chinese people shine brightly, and we always make others give China the thumbs up.
So please be sure to continue to help each other and stand united in struggle. Unity is strength, unity is the way out, and only through unity can we overcome the current difficult situation. Chinese people in China are divided into north and south, east and west, left and right, but outside of China, we are all Chinese and we should all be united. No one can be left behind!
– The Chinese Embassy in Ukraine“
Besides this message to Chinese citizens, the Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine also published a two-minute video in which he stressed that the embassy would never abandon its citizens.
Although many people praised the message that stressed unity and solidarity, there were also some critical voices who wondered why there is no mention of a concrete plan to evacuate Chinese citizens in Ukraine and why Chinese students in Kyiv and beyond were not evacuated earlier.
During a regular press conference earlier today. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin (汪文斌) said that the Ministry is working together with the embassy in Ukraine to explore all options to assist Chinese citizens in Ukraine to evacuate safely, but also stressed that the current situation is very challenging.
According to Chinese media quoting the Chinese Embassy, there are about 6000 Chinese citizens in Ukraine, including students and members of staff of Chinese companies, with the majority of them living in Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Odessa, and Sumy. Other reports, however (such as this recent one by Sohu), suggest that the latest statistics on the number of Chinese living in Ukraine are outdated and that, not even counting other Chinese citizens, there are already minimally 10,000 Chinese students studying in Ukraine.
By Manya Koetse
Featured image: https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404741232139305405
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