How does this incident affect foreigners in Beijing or China
as a whole?
Any first-hand info?
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Here is a travel safety site that has always been ahead of
the State Department and is usually more accurate despite
thier funny name. www.realworldrescue.com
"Real World Asia - Travel Warning - Peoples Republic of
China - (May 7-June 1) - An accidental bombing of the
Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia has led to
government-run anti-United States demonstrations including
physical attacks on the US Embassy and harrassment of
foreign citizens. Real World Rescue assesses that travel
to China is not in jeopardy over the long term (unless
something catastrophic occurs e.g. China and US break
Diplomatic Relations). The US State Department has issued
a warning on immediate travel to China. Be advised that
despite recent improved relations, China remains an
autocratic, hard-line, state-run communist dictatorship.
Protests seen on television are carefully orchestrated by
the Government of China. We assess the protests will
abruptly stop within the week once political goals are
met. Recognize that in the past the Chinese government,
has specifically ordered foreigners attacked, detained or
arrested. We do not believe this will occur but
spontaneous attacks by student nationalists may be allowed
leading up to the 10th Anniversary of Tiananmen Square
massacre. Real World Rescue advises that China travel
conditions will return to normal by June 1st and that
travel afterward should be relatively safe."
What about travel in the next two weeks? I'm supposed to be
traveling through Tibet in 11 days? Will it be safe?
Hopefully people from the US, the UK, France, Germany,
Italy, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands and Portugal are
affected at least as much as the innocent people of
Belgrade are being affected by bombs from the US, the UK,
France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands
and Portugal.
I am meant to set off to Hong-Kong and South-East of China
(Guantxi, Yunnan and Hainan) this Sunday coming BUT I am
considering changing my holiday destination due to the last
demonstrations and protests against occidentals.
Could anyone travelling right now around any of the
mentioned areas advise me about how safe it is backpacking
two Spanish girls by themselves. I am worried about
possible individual and sporadic attacks against us for the
fact of being Westerns and speak English.
Thank you very much for your advice.
I just left China 2 days ago (from Urumqi/Xinjiang) and I
didn't even know what has happened. I had no problems
whatsoever (I'm Swiss). I discussed (tried to keep it low
level) Yugoslavia with a Chinese guy who insisted that
Milosevic is a hero (the general Chinese opinion I suppose
especially after what happened). Still there was no problem,
although I told him that in my opinion Milosevic is a
butcher.....
Don't worry about your safety, it should be all right.
I am a US citizen currently traveling in NW China city of
Urumqi. A week ago things were a little tense. I had
about 300 demonstrators outside my hotel and again later
that day at another location. They were chanting "down
with America". I have also seen some rather nasty hate
mail at some of the internet cafes. I have talked with
other backpackers who were in Beijing and Chengdu during
the demonstrations. Some were very concerned. Things
appear to have quieted down now that the bodies have
returned to China but the China Daily is continuing to
flame the fires. The Chinese goverment has blocked many
internet cites and I have been unable to access Clinton's
apology on the internet and am unable to access CNN or BBC
web pages. I have spoken to one very angry individual who
believes it was deliberate and another who encouraged me an
believed that it was a mistake. My personal recommendation
is if you are traveling to China in the very near future is
to try and stay away from some of the large university
cities such as Chengdu or Beijing. In another month things
should be quiet. I believe that the Chinese goverment will
continue to flame the fires until the 10th anniversary of
Tiamen passes. Happy traveling!
China southwest airlines flying out of kathmandu to lhasa
turned back some US and UK travellers, and would not let
them fly to lhasa, that was since bombing. Up to a week ago
this was still a problem for UK and US passport holders.