Chinanews.com, Beijing, December 30.
Title: Year-end observation: The frequent occurrence of overseas Chinese-related public security incidents requires multiple measures to ensure safety
China News Network reporter Ran Wenjuan
The new crown pneumonia epidemic has superimposed major changes unseen in a century, and it has had a major and far-reaching impact on the international order.
In this context, the living environment of overseas Chinese has also become more complicated.
Looking back at the coming year 2020, security and violence incidents involving overseas Chinese and Chinese people have occurred from time to time.
In the face of security threats, the overseas Chinese must not only unite to "keep together", but also make the laws of the country where they live their own "talisman."
"Hate crimes" against Chinese have increased significantly
The new crown pneumonia pandemic has led to the rise of racism.
The use of racist titles such as "Chinese virus" by politicians in individual countries has intensified the hostility of the local society towards the Chinese community.
When some Western media reported on the new crown virus, they often put a face of Chinese on the page. These prejudiced reports misled the public and caused deep harm to the Chinese community.
Since the beginning of this year, many countries have seen a significant increase in "hate crimes" against Chinese.
A report released in August by the American Civil Organization for the Promotion of Chinese Rights stated that from March 19 to August 5, 2020, the United States received a total of 2,583 incidents of discrimination against Asian Americans.
According to a survey conducted by the Australian National University on more than 3,000 Asians, 84.5% of Asians had experienced discrimination at least once between January and October this year.
Since the end of October, racially discriminatory remarks against Chinese have appeared on some French social media. For a time, some Chinese elderly people were afraid to leave their homes at night.
The "hate crimes" against the Chinese not only caused some Chinese people to suffer personal injury, but also caused psychological damage to the Chinese people.
Su-JitLin, a Chinese columnist, once wrote in the Huffington Post in the United States, “Every time I log on to social media, I have to face a series of anxiety-producing remarks, which will bring a sudden sense of powerlessness and powerlessness. A sense of help."
The recently released "China International Migration Report 2020" pointed out that the issue of immigration has become an important topic of social conflicts caused by the transfer of political parties to the epidemic, and the trend of "anti-immigration" has been further strengthened in some Western countries.
Under such a background, racial discrimination against Chinese people may not be able to quell in the short term, and its destructive effects will also be difficult to eliminate in the short term.
The political and economic situation of the country of residence affects the safety of Chinese
The political and economic situation of the country where they live is also closely related to the living conditions of the overseas Chinese.
Affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic this year, many countries have a severe economic situation, and the number of poor people has risen, resulting in insecurity, which has brought great security risks to the Chinese community.
There have been many vicious incidents against Chinese in Angola this year.
On June 22, local time, a Chinese in the city of Vienna in Luanda, the capital of the country, was robbed by multiple robbers and was unfortunately killed.
On July 27 and 28, local time, two consecutive robberies against Chinese companies occurred in Luanda. Criminals committed crimes with guns, causing injuries and property losses.
The Chinese Embassy in Angola held a video conference on security work in mid-December. The Chinese Ambassador to Angola Gong Tao stated that the Angolan economy has declined due to the epidemic, and the social security environment has recently deteriorated.
The public security risks faced by Chinese enterprises and personnel in Angola are more complex and severe.
Such cases of theft and robbery against Chinese tend to become more rampant at the end of the year.
On November 29, local time, a Chinese supermarket in Corrientes, Argentina was robbed at gunpoint. 5000 pesos in cash, several mobile phones and other valuables were looted.
In the Montague Garden area of Cape Town, South Africa, illegal police even robbed overseas Chinese shops under the pretext of searching.
Ensuring safety requires multiple strategies
The lives of overseas Chinese and Chinese people are not easy to live across the oceans, and 2020, when the epidemic is raging, will be even more challenging and bitter.
In a foreign country, people must protect their lives and property and safeguard their legal rights and interests. In addition to "reporting the group to keep warm" among their compatriots, they must also actively integrate and use the law to defend their rights.
The South African Chinese Police-Civil Cooperation Center established in 2004 is a good example.
The center actively establishes business contacts with local police units, is familiar with police work procedures, and builds channels for interaction between Chinese and police units, so that the police can learn more about the difficulties faced by the Chinese community, and at the same time do their best to assist the police in their work.
Recently, in response to the poor public security situation in the Johannesburg Chinese Mall area, the South African Chinese Police and Civil Cooperation Center took the lead in organizing armed security vehicles to patrol the area, preventing multiple robberies against Chinese businessmen.
In Houston, the United States, the Chinese Public Security Joint Defense Self-Defense Force has also been established a few days ago to conduct crime prevention propaganda activities in places where cases are frequent, reminding compatriots to be more vigilant.
In addition, the overseas Chinese must abandon the mentality of "resting things and calming people" and make good use of the law to protect their rights.
A few days ago, the Paris Court of Appeal of France issued a verdict on a case of violent robbery against Asian women, and three criminals were sentenced for "assault with racial discrimination."
This is the result of the local Chinese society insisting on passing laws to protect rights.
(Finish)