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Ukraine
ChinaDiplomacy

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

  • Beijing’s embassy in Ukraine has told Chinese residents to stock up on food and water and stay connected in case they need help
  • A notice from the mission stopped short of advising people to leave the country but said they should avoid unstable regions

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China has stopped short of advising its citizens to leave Ukraine. Photo: AFP
Kinling Lo
Beijing has issued a heightened security alert to its citizens in Ukraine, warning them to stock up on food and daily necessities after Russia announced it was sending troops to the Eastern European country’s breakaway regions.

The Chinese embassy in Ukraine issued a notice on Tuesday morning upon “major changes on the situation in eastern Ukraine”.

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“The embassy would remind Chinese citizens and companies in Ukraine to be aware of the local safety warnings and not to head to the unstable regions,” it said.

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“There is a need to be more alert to safety risks and to stock up food, water and daily necessities when needed,” the embassy said, adding that China’s citizens in Ukraine should stay connected to local Chinese associations, student unions and chambers of commerce in case they need help.

The Chinese embassy did not ask its citizens to leave Ukraine, despite a number of other missions – including the US, Australia, Japan, South Korea – giving such instructions more than a week ago, while also moving their diplomats out of the country.

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The latest security warning follows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement on Monday that Russia recognises Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk and Luhansk as independent entities.
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