Chinese embassy in US warns citizens to avoid protests and rallies amid fears of further violence in Washington from Trump supporters

The Chinese embassy in Washington has issued a safety warning to Chinese citizens and organisations in the US, highlighting the recent attack on the Capitol in Washington, the murder of a PhD student in Chicago and the continued spread of Covid-19.

"The Chinese embassy in the US once again reminds Chinese citizens and organisations in the US to raise awareness of safety and protection, closely watch the local security and the epidemic situation, be cautious and avoid going to parades, rallies and other areas where people gather," it said in a statement released on Saturday.

"The current security situation in the US is extremely serious. The capital city of Washington DC has declared a state of emergency, and the National Guard has deployed large-scale forces to maintain security in the capital city.

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"The epidemic is still spreading in the US, with a record number of confirmed cases and deaths, and the emergence of variants of the virus," it said, urging people to seek medical advice if needed.

The pandemic has grown catastrophically worse in the closing weeks of Trump's presidency. More than 4,400 people in the United States died of the coronavirus last Tuesday, more in one day than were killed at Pearl Harbor or in the September 11 attacks.

The warning also mentioned the death of Fan Yiran, who was shot dead in Chicago on January 9, saying: "Recently, an innocent Chinese citizen studying for a doctorate was shot and killed."

Police believe he was one of three victims of a gunman who selected his victims at random before being killed in a shoot-out with police.

The embassy had already issued a safety warning after supporters of Donald Trump stormed the Capitol on January 6, attacking police and forcing members of Congress who were meeting to certify the election results to take cover.

The warning said: "On January 6, a large-scale demonstration took place in Washington DC. The local government declared an emergency curfew. The Chinese embassy in the US reminds Chinese citizens in the US to closely watch the local epidemic and security situation, be vigilant, and carefully consider going to public places."

Trump reportedly now plans to leave Washington on the morning of Inauguration Day next Wednesday, after considering a departure on Tuesday.

Further unrest is feared ahead of Donald Trump's exit. Photo: AFP alt=Further unrest is feared ahead of Donald Trump's exit. Photo: AFP

News of his planned farewell, including a proposed 21-gun salute, was widely circulated on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, being read more than 17 million times and with many users expressing concern for Chinese people in the US.

"Cherish the last time. It's the last opportunity for his supporters to revolt," one post on Weibo read.

Cherry Chen, a Chinese student studying at University at Buffalo for her master's degree, said most of those who persisted in going out during the Covid flare-ups were PhD students going to the campus to carry out research.

"I am scared to go out at night, to drive, to buy groceries, to go to school and to be cautious at all times it is important to protect ourselves," she said.

She also said he was "heartbroken" by the news of Fan's murder, adding: "I hope that we can protect ourselves more."

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2021 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2021. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.