There is incessant fury as some people have taken to social media platform Twitter to express discontentment over what they say is nothing but racist and xenophobic in China’s fight against Coronavirus.
Africans in southern China's largest city, Guangzhou, say they have become targets of suspicion and have subsequently been subjected to forced evictions. According to them, they have been rendered homeless having been evicted from their homes by landlords and turned away from hotels. That is not all. They claim they have been subjected to arbitrary quarantines and mass coronavirus testing as the country tightens measures to control the spread of the disease.
CNN reports that a publication on the People’s Government of Guangdong Province’s website on April 4 alleged that a Nigerian national with Covid-19 had attacked a Chinese nurse who tried to stop him leaving an isolation ward at a Guangzhou hospital. The report was shared widely on social media, and local Africans CNN spoke to say a racist backlash against the African community followed.
As at April 7, Guangzhou had reported 111 imported cases, including 25 foreign nationals. Among them, 9 were from Nigeria, 3 from Angola, 2 from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and 2 from Niger. Fearing a cluster among the African community, Guangzhou authorities upgraded the risk level of Yuexiu and Baiyun, the areas home to the city's two African enclaves, from low to medium, state-owned Global Times reported.
“COVID-19 control work is aimed at safeguarding both Chinese and foreigners' health and safety in the country, and procedures are carried out regardless of nationality,” China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian was quoted to have said at Tuesday's routine press conference.
But it does appear the explanation given by authorities leaves much to be desired. Disgruntled individuals are calling out the Chinese government, arguing that Africans deserve better while others are suggesting it is time for Africa to wake up from its slumber and unite.
Here are a few of the comments:
Dear Africa,
— Miss Forson (@lydiaforson) April 11, 2020
Rise UP- if we continue to go to the table as beggars,this is what we get in return.
Our story needs to change, we give too much to the world to continuously be treated like this.
Despicable#ChinaMustExplain https://t.co/77nqccc8ln
#ChinaMustExplain Chinese people must be chased out of Africa, why Africa is mute or may be because they owe the Chinese government something,in return they sold their people to Chinese to do as they please with them?
— I RUN MY OWN RACE (@KASICHI2014) April 11, 2020
My biggest fear is that, China's actions are exposing African nationals to the Coronavirus and they may later deport them to their home African countries.
— Maiestas ?? (@Peegah_Ebenezer) April 11, 2020
What happened to #StayHomeSaveLives?
Africans must rethink our relationship with China.#ChinaMustExplain #StayHome #Ebola pic.twitter.com/i0wARTLu6q
I’ain’t defending the chinese, but it’s a discipline country dat follow their rules ????. So de foreigners in Guangzhou city that are going through stress rn is literally cos of some recalcitrant black hustlers there,n thats affecting all the Africans in that city #ChinaMustExplain
— sugarkay (@sugarkay7) April 11, 2020
Being in South Africa and witnessing what was called Xenophobia, I safely say that where Nigerians are involved particularly in illegal dealings it will elevated as Xenophobia. I don't condone Xenophobia but a coin has two sides. #Xenophobia #ChinaMustExplain
— Her Majesty the ???? ???????? (@s_nshezi60) April 11, 2020
Africa has a scarcity of resources because of a history of unsustainability if you mix this with debatable leadership and other social ills, an African possesses a thirsty need to seek a better life for their family and the next generation. #ChinaMustExplain
— Mimi Ahava (Anna) (@mwika24) April 11, 2020
#ChinaMustExplain what exactly? Explain what, you think other countries are as lawless as your dear African countries, there's absolutely nothing that China need to explain, this dudes deserves a jail time, perhaps that's what China needs to explain, why are they jailed pic.twitter.com/sDj5e2xwjx
— Gentle Giant (@Boikanyo_Sere) April 11, 2020
African must stay in Africa and ensure they run their countries properly. This is not only happening outside africa, even here in Africa when things go wrong the first people to blame are foreign nationals.let us build our countries to be habitabe for our people #ChinaMustExplain
— Sgantsotso (@Sgantsotso3) April 11, 2020
I wake up and everyone is getting in their xenephobia bag with this #ChinaMustExplain hashtag. You can find whatever reason to be a prejudiced POS that suits you, it doesn't change that you're an idiot. 2 weeks of lockdown and you lose your damn minds.
— Fat Nose Mendoza (@SlooPhaho) April 11, 2020
Why do South Africans think they're exempt from whats happening in China. You think the Chinese know the difference between a Nigerian & a South African when they deny you entry into shops? It's not about visas because an African diplomat was even assaulted. #ChinaMustExplain
— WASH your HANDS (@_afro_politan) April 11, 2020
Hmmm...
— Roosen Velt (@VeltRoosen) April 11, 2020
It's heartbreaking how some people have no love for humanity and their fellows.
Africans are the most hated, meanwhile we accommodate more expatriates and we show them maximum care.
Karma awaits you
In God we trust ????????#ChinaMustExplain #ChinaLiedAndPeopleDied pic.twitter.com/ZL2DPrbZHq
First, how true is this?? #ChinaLiedAndPeopleDied #ChinaMustExplain pic.twitter.com/LcHnP8HbLY
— APOTHECARY! (@MOHD_Ks) April 11, 2020
It is your right to want to live & work anywhere in the world Legally. It is not right to discriminate & abuse those who are in your country illegally. Use the right channels and quarentine the accused individuals because deportation is not viable right now. #ChinaMustExplain
— Mimi Ahava (Anna) (@mwika24) April 11, 2020
I checked #ChinaMustExplain, saw South Afrcians roasting Nigerians. I don't know how bad Nigerians have spoilt SA with drugs or the inhuman treatment of Nigerians in China. But I know this; #Biafra is a scam! When they get into trouble they call on BUHARI instead of Nmandi Kanu!
— APOTHECARY! (@MOHD_Ks) April 11, 2020
This is so sad ???? ???? nw turn de whole thing to "Racist" can't take dis shit from China anymore, it's time African unite #AfricaUnion wise up bcos if we dnt take care our people out there in China will die on their streets am hurt.??????????? #WHO #ChinaLiedAndPeopleDied #ChinaMustExplain pic.twitter.com/TRnZYECiyF
— ????????.TESHiE SARK™?.???????? (@psalmtweet) April 11, 2020
Nigerians do not deserve this calamity.
— Precious Chidiebere?????? (@Anamelechi2) April 11, 2020
CHINA CAN NOT BE TRUSTED. #China#ChinaMustExplain#ChineseBioterrorism#ChinaVirus19 https://t.co/uWykrTGM6t
F*ck you, China. #ChinaIsAsshoe #chinaisracist #ChinaLiedAndPeopleDied #ChinaMustExplain https://t.co/H6nVKen30P
— grow up (@TheRealB_Noon) April 11, 2020
Africa is better than any continent in the world but sadly Africa is the struggling continent????...
— I REP PTA... (@Lkayeradicator) April 11, 2020
Africa Unite ?#ChinaMustExplain
Once this crisis passes, Every Country should think their Wider & Overdependent Economic relationship with #China in order to prepare ourselves for this kind of shocks in the strategic interest of one's own country. #ChinaMustExplain #ChinaLiedAndPeopleDied
— Stay Home Stay Safe!!! (@jaldeep14) April 11, 2020
WTF is wrong with China.? ???????????? U have caused de whole world in greap with fear nd fvcken chinese virus now see how u are treating non citizens (Africans) in your country. This shit ain't jokes, are they forgotten Chinese lives here in some African countries.? #ChinaMustExplain pic.twitter.com/Zv9jDJDViE
— ????????.TESHiE SARK™?.???????? (@psalmtweet) April 11, 2020
Chinese must not treat Africans unfairly or poorly.They must remember how this all started. Chinese are welcomed in Africa #ChinaMustExplain
— Paul B Gibson (@CentaurusTr) April 11, 2020
What wrong has a black ???? child ???? ever done? Why are we being subjected to slavery and torture in the 21st century? Who made the light skinned people superior?Is this what we are meant to do in this world ???? ?#ChinaMustExplain
— Lindinkosi Booi (@lindinkosi_booi) April 11, 2020
