While China has refused to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Chinese Embassy in Kyiv is now advising its citizens to hide their identities in the face of rising anti-Chinese sentiment. She also announced the organization of charter flights to evacuate the 6,000 Chinese nationals waiting to be evacuated from Ukraine.
► Follow our live on the Russian offensive in Ukraine
With our correspondent in Beijing, Stephane Lagarde
Messages from the Chinese Embassy in Kiev are relayed on the weibo social network against a background of great music: “ Get on well with the Ukrainian people, try not to leave your house, don’t reveal your identity, don’t display any signs that you are Chinese. »
These messages bear witness to the deterioration of the situation in Ukraine, particularly for Chinese citizens and businesses, to whom the same embassy recommended on the first day of the war to prominently display the Chinese colors on their cars, in order to be able to leave the region. .
Result: out of stock, no more Chinese flag in Kiev. A Chinese student says that his was stolen from his bag; a Kazakh says he drew the red flag with gold stars on his car using lipstick and stickers to accompany his Chinese fiancée to the airport.
Everywhere, the same testimonies of waiting, sheltered at home or in the basements: ” Many people were panicked, they all went to the supermarket to buy groceries. We’re getting ready to leave », tells the Caijing newspaper a student from Jilin in northeast China. ” I started packing a few parcels, I’ll only take a small suitcase says Mr. Chen, also about to leave for Odessa.
The port of Odessa where a weibo account with many followers recommends beware of anti-Ukrainian rhetoric, which has caused anti-Chinese sentiment to rise.
Beijing has abstained in the vote on the resolution on Ukraine to the Security Council and the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recalled in a statement that the sovereignty of countries should be respected, Ukraine being no exception.