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Shi Jiangtao

Beijing’s top envoy in Kyiv has warned that a planned evacuation of its citizens in Ukraine had to be delayed and urged people to take all safety precautions in “a period of high security risks”.
The Chinese embassy earlier said it would arrange chartered flights out of Kyiv and asked those who wanted to leave to register on its website.
But in a 10-minute video message posted on the embassy’s WeChat account on Sunday, ambassador Fan Xianrong warned of a grave security situation for Chinese in the country and said those evacuation plans might not go ahead due to growing safety concerns.
“In the days to come, the situation is expected to deteriorate further. At present, the fierce battle between the warring sides of Ukraine and Russia is still going on, and there will be many unpredictable changes,” he said.


There are nearly 6,000 Chinese nationals in Ukraine, including students, businesspeople and migrants, according to the embassy.
Fan appealed for calm and understanding from those who wanted to return to China, acknowledging that it was natural for everyone, including Chinese diplomats, to feel “a little scared and worried”. But he said he would not “leave his compatriots alone”.
“What I can tell you clearly is that as long as the safety conditions are met and everyone’s safety is guaranteed, we will make appropriate arrangements,” he said.
But with “missiles in the air”, “explosions and guns on the ground from time to time” amid fierce battles between Russian and Ukrainian troops, “how is it possible to guarantee the safety [of evacuation operations] in this situation? If you really want to leave under such circumstances, how can your family not feel worried? So we must wait until it is safe to go,” Fan said.
Ukrainians in China: far from home but close to the conflict
He called on Chinese to be fully aware of “a lot of security risks” they were facing, especially with some Ukrainians possibly becoming “anxious and impulsive” and “more likely to take extreme action than usual” over comments or gestures deemed unfriendly.
The diplomat stressed that it was a “period of high security risk” and urged the Chinese to “show friendliness and rationality” towards Ukrainians and “not to provoke them”.
He urged the Chinese stranded in the war zones to “strictly abide by all safety precautions” and local curfew regulations and stay away from windows during bombings, avoid turning on the lights and go out as little as possible.
Chinese citizens should also “not quarrel with locals, not take videos out of curiosity, and in particular stay away from all military personnel and facilities”.


China is walking a fine line on the war in Ukraine. While it has said Ukraine’s sovereignty should be respected, it has so far refused to describe Russia’s aggression as an “invasion” or condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin for launching the conflict.
In the lead up to the invasion, China – unlike many Western countries – did not ask its citizens to consider leaving Ukraine.
In its first security alert hours after Russia launched its attack on Ukraine, the embassy initially urged its citizens to stay home or display the Chinese flag on their cars as a precaution if they had to go outside.
However, some Chinese people in Ukraine have reported being threatened or attacked by locals because of their nationality.
After drawing fierce online criticism at home over the “insensitive” advice that may have put its own citizens in danger, the embassy put out another notice on Friday urging Chinese nationals to avoid identifying themselves in public.




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Ukraine

China’s Ukraine evacuation plan on hold, with worse expected to come

Plans to evacuate Chinese in Kyiv have been put on hold as conditions have deteriorated. Photo: Reuters

Ukraine invasion: China’s WeChat, Douyin crack down on vulgar jokes and misinformation

Ukrainian servicemen walk at fragments of a downed aircraft seen in in Kyiv on Friday. Chinese social media platforms said they are cracking down on misinformation and other inappropriate content about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Photo: AP Photo

Ukraine crisis: North Korea defends Russia as it blames US as ‘root cause’ of invasion

Photo provided by the North Korean government shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaking in a meeting of ruling Workers’ Party of Korea in Pyongyang, North Korea on February 26, 2022. Content of this image cannot be independently verified. Photo KCNA/KNS via AP

A photo provided by the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on 28 December 2021 shows North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un (C) speaking during a plenary session of the central committee of the ruling Workers’ Party. Photo: KCNA/DPA 

The aftermath of a rocket strike to a residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 26, 2022. Photo: Los Angeles Times/TNS

The United States and its allies clashed with Russia and China in the UN Security Council on February 8, 2022 over the usefulness and impact of UN sanctions currently imposed on countries from North Korea to Yemen and Congo. Photo: AP Photo

High alert warning to China citizens in Ukraine but no leave order as crisis escalates

China has stopped short of advising its citizens to leave Ukraine. Photo: AFP

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Chinese ambassador in Kyiv says evacuees must wait until it is safe for them to go
Don’t antagonise local residents or take videos out of curiosity, he says



Chinese ambassador in Kyiv says evacuees must wait until it is safe for them to go.


Ukraine war

China’s Ukraine evacuation plan on hold, with worse expected to come

Chinese ambassador in Kyiv says evacuees must wait until it is safe for them to go Don’t antagonise local residents or take videos out of curiosity, he says

Chinese ambassador in Kyiv says evacuees must wait until it is safe for them to go

Don’t antagonise local residents or take videos out of curiosity, he says