"Xenophobia is on the rise in China, and supermarkets, gyms, bars, and hotels are refusing foreigners in the name of pandemic control."

"China is practicing discrimination and mandatory isolation against Africans in the country."

These are some of the recent accusations stigmatizing China made by the international media. Moving from a sense of superiority, adopted by some American politicians and media agencies since the outbreak of the pandemic to demonize and stigmatize China, they are now describing Westerners as victims of discrimination in China. There are even reports that Africans, who have historically had a deep friendship with the Chinese people, have been subjected to acts of racism in China. 

Isolated views 

The fact is that some of China's supermarkets, gyms, bars, hotels and other public places do not allow people to enter in groups, both Chinese and foreigners, as a measure of pandemic prevention and control. Also, a quarantine period is in place for people entering the country, including Chinese and foreigners. China is still implementing strict control measures, with a focus on controlling imported cases of COVID-19, to prevent a resurgence of the disease within the country. All these measures are implemented in accordance with the law. 

Chinese people and the majority of foreigners in China have strictly observed these measures. However, some foreigners do not understand the importance of these measures and refuse to abide by them. In extreme cases, they offend workers implementing these measures, refusing to allow them to take temperature measurements and insulting and even beating them. There were also cases of foreigners who jumped the queue to take COVID-19 tests and asked Chinese waiting in line to get out of the testing room. The misbehavior of some foreigners naturally aroused anger among the Chinese and, as a result, irrational remarks were made on social media. It was based on these remarks that a handful of Western politicians and media agencies accused China of a rise of xenophobia and discrimination against foreigners. 

What these politicians and media agencies don't say is that the vast majority of Chinese people hold a rational and objective opinion on these misbehaving foreigners. With a netizen population of around 900 million in China, it is normal that there are different voices, including inappropriate remarks. However, the remarks made by a few netizens cannot represent China's mainstream public opinion. It is therefore unfair to make accusations against China based on these isolated remarks.  

Safeguarding society 

The global spread of COVID-19 has shown that the coronavirus respects no borders, nor does it discriminate between races or skin colors. It is a common enemy of humankind, and fighting it requires everyone to take part. Abiding by pandemic prevention measures is what responsible individuals should do, to safeguard themselves and society at large.

The control measures taken by the Chinese Government since the pandemic outbreak, including those on treating those infected, are equally applicable to both Chinese and foreigners in the country. The Chinese Government has always attached great importance to the safety and health, among other lawful rights and interests, of foreigners in China. 

The vast majority of foreigners in China approve of China's effective efforts in fighting the pandemic. They fully cooperated with the government implementing prevention and control measures, and many expressed their heartfelt thanks for the care and attention they had received in China. Chinese people were also touched by the stories of foreigners who stood with them at their most difficult times by volunteering to join in the local fight against the pandemic. 

Guangdong Province is home to many Africans. When the provincial government escalated control measures for everyone coming from abroad in accordance with the country's policy to control imported cases, it was inevitable that many Africans were involved.  

In it together 

China and Africa are good friends and partners. China-Africa friendship has been built on decades of cooperation in our fight for national independence and liberation, economic growth and a better livelihood for the people. It is a valuable legacy shared by Chinese and African people, and its development will not be stopped by the futile attempt of some Western politicians and media agencies to provoke conflict between Chinese and African people.  

Moreover, discrimination and racism are not in the blood of the Chinese nation. The term racism was introduced into China only in modern times. China opposes all forms of discrimination and prejudice. Accusing China of supporting racism is something that African people and rational Westerners don't accept. 

The current achievement of China in containing COVID-19 was hard earned. In the face of increasing pressure from imported infections, China has had to tighten its measures to reinforce pandemic prevention and block all loopholes that may lead to a second outbreak. These measures are not targeted at any specific groups of people. They are to safeguard not only Chinese people, but also all foreigners in China. Therefore, we hope that all foreigners in China could strictly abide by the laws of the country and local regulations for pandemic prevention and control. Let's work together to combat the epidemic and defend the health and safety of ourselves and others. 

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