Maintain a low profile while leaving, China tells its cirizens in Ukraine

China has asked its citizen leaving Ukraine to behave themselves, remain quiet and show respect to locals as they finally begin to make their way out of the country through their nearest border points in batches.The Chinese embassy on Tuesday,advice for its nationals to remain quiet, courteous and travel in a group was given in the backdrop of possible resentment against them among locals who are aware of Beijing’s support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Chinese citizens should avoid disputes with Ukrainians and try to resolve problems amicably.

An advisory from the Chinese embassy directed their nationals to catch various trains leaving Ukraine and advised them to essentially maintain a low profile while leaving the country.  Not to reveal their identity or display any identifying signs, reversing an earlier suggestion to attach a Chinese flag to their vehicles if they needed to go out amid escalating violence. Chinese citizens should not take pictures of the fighting or combatants, especially without their consent.At least 6,000 Chinese are said to be based in different cities of Ukraine. In a message Chinese envoy, Fan Xianrong, said Chinese nationals must avoid confrontation with local people and stay away from military-related personnel or facilities.

Safety concerns for Chinese nationals in Ukraine are also tied to the outpouring of pro-Russian sentiment and jeers targeting Ukrainian women on Chinese social media, which have been highlighted in media reports. China’s Sina Weibo, in three batches, “screened out 542 posts, 622 posts, 242 posts and 359 comments, and punished 74 accounts, 105 accounts and 83 accounts because they had posted vulgar content about Ukraine and the Russia-Ukraine situation”, the state-run tabloid, Global Times reported. The Chinese version of TikTok, Douyin removed 6,400 illegal videos, interrupted 1,620 illegal live streams, and disposed of accounts that ridiculed the Ukraine tensions as well as promoting hatred and gender antagonism, the report added.