Credit: Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times  /  U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Tibor Nagy  speaks on  the Trump Administration’s Africa Policy at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington D.C. March 3, 2020. 

By Gary Raynaldo        DIPLOMATIC TIMES

 The U.S. top diplomat for Africa Tibor Nagy said Monday that “videos and stories from Guangzhou are appalling” and that “Chinese authorities must do more to stop these attacks against Africans living and working in China”.  Nagy, who serves as the Department of State’s Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, made the comment in a tweet in reaction to widespread reports of Africans being evicted from their homes and thrown out on the street left homeless amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  African  diplomats have also complained to  the Chinese government that  foreigners of African appearance in the city of Guangzhou (known as “Little African”) were being subjected to forceful testing for coronavirus, quarantine and racist harassment and treatment. 

The U.S. Department Of State Denounces China Abuse of Africans 

 State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus retweeted:

Shameful xenophobia from #Guangzhou. Chinese authorities must stop this abuse of Africans living and studying in China. Actions speak louder than words. https://t.co/wIsOuZFgJM

— Morgan Ortagus (@statedeptspox) April 13, 2020

Chinese ambassadors are being called on  by diplomats to  respond to videos on social media  of African migrants being evicted from apartments and refused entry into hotels. The migrants come mainly  from African countries such as Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda. 

China Denies Discrimination Against Africans in Guangzhou

Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China  /  Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian at press conference in Beijing Apr. 14, 2020.

“The US is exaggerating this issue in an attempt to sow discord between China and African countries and sabotage the two sides’ friendship. It is futile and deeply immoral. As we heard from the African diplomatic envoys yesterday, China’s anti-epidemic efforts have paid off. They also said that the two sides’ profound and time-tested friendship is too strong to be affected by any attempts or ploys by external forces.I’d like to stress that the China-Africa friendship is unbreakable as it’s deeply rooted in the hearts of our peoples. After COVID-19 broke out, China and Africa once again demonstrated solidarity. Those attempting to smear or delude others, drive a wedge or sow discord will only end up empty-handed.”

-China Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian 

McDonald’s China Apologizes For COVID-19 Related Discrimination Against Africans

“McDonald’s China apologizes unreservedly to the individual and our customers” – very poor apology from McDonalds https://t.co/FLBSx2fF3t

— Black Livity China (@BlackLivityCN) April 13, 2020

A McDonald’s location in Guangzhou reportedly banned black people from entering amid worries about COVID-19. The restaurant displayed a sign banning black people from the premises. The sign, circulated on social media, said the McDonald’s location in has “been informed that from now on black people are not allowed to enter the restaurant.”