New information emerging from Guangzhou China indicates videos trending on social media about ‘arbitrary arrests and harassment’ of Africans are not depicting correctly the essence behind the actions of the Chinese authorities.
The information indicates those being rounded off are actually illegal migrants who because of their illegal status have failed to go for voluntary testing to ensure their safety and that of the entire city.
Incidentally, the situation was worsened when one of these illegal persons tested positive for the Coronavirus and was kept in isolation at a hospital.
The 47-year-old Nigerian, however, tried to abscond from quarantine during which he assaulted his nurse who attempted to prevent him from escaping, savagely biting her on the face and leaving her with serious scratch marks on other parts of the body.
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A source told Frontpageghana.com that most of those being evicted have no valid visas and have not participated in the voluntary test carried out for residents of the city.
“These people have been staying illegally in China since their business/tourist visa expired.”
“Most of them are either in business or teaching English illegally as they have no work visas.”
During the height of the coronavirus disease, the Chinese government introduced the nucleic acid test that was carried out on both locals and foreigners.
However, the illegal migrants failed to go for the test because their passports would have exposed their illegitimate status.
They, therefore, did not receive the status cards to indicate they have taken the test and are either free of the virus or otherwise.
The Green Card indicates a person has taken the test and is free of the virus. The Yellow Card indicates a person is awaiting results and the Red Card means a person has tested positive.
Incidentally, landlords have been directed not to house persons without the Green Card but especially, persons without cards at all who have not even taken the test.
Another source expressed worry at how different incidents and at various times over the years have been mixed together with the Nigerian coronavirus patient incident in an attempt to spread false information about China’s stand.
He argued that there are good and bad people in every country including China who may take advantage of migrants, legal or illegal.
That, he said, should not be a basis to classify entire China and her people.
He explained that as a communist state, authorities demand strict compliance of the laws contrary to what pertains to many parts of the world.
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“So to defy the government directives and endanger oneself and an entire city and its people would not be tolerated by the Chinese government.”
“Indeed, no state would pander to the whims of migrants in this difficult time when a state is doing everything to protect its citizens, especially if it is coming from illegal migrants.”
He called for calm and the need to get facts of the underlying issues in the videos before making judgments that would ruin efforts that have been made so far in the fight against the Coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian has insisted: “Since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, China and African countries have always supported each other and have always fought against the virus jointly.
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Uthman A. Marani/Frontpageghana.com/Ghana
