China has decided to evacuate its citizens, including
students, tourists and businessmen, from India who are facing
"difficulties" in the country and want to return home in the wake of
the coronavirus pandemic.
The Chinese embassy put out a notice on its website on
Monday, asking those wanting to return home to book tickets in special flights.
The move to evacuate its citizens comes in the wake of India
emerging as the 10th worst-hit country by the deadly virus, which has infected
nearly 1.40 lakh people in India.
The coronavirus, which was
first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, has spread to over 190
countries, infecting over 54 lakh people and taking lives of 3.4 lakh. India
had evacuated around 700 Indians from Wuhan in February.
The notice by the Chinese
embassy said the people opting to return home will have to accept all
quarantine and epidemic prevention arrangements during the flight as well as
after entering China.
The notice in Mandarin said
people treated for coronavirus infection or having symptom of the infection
like fever and cough in the last 14 days should not take the special flights.
"Through the unified
arrangement of the ministry of foreign affairs and relevant departments, the
Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in India will assist international
students in India, tourists, temporary business visitors who have difficulties
and are in urgent need to take a temporary flight back home to China,"
according to the notice.
It suggested that people
from some other countries may also be evacuated. The notice said the cost of
flight ticket and quarantine in China will have to be borne by the evacuees
"If your body temperature
exceeds 37.3 degrees (inclusive) before boarding or if you have suspected
symptoms, you will be refused boarding by the airline," the notice said.
China's decision to
evacuate its citizens from India also comes at a time when troops of both the
countries are locked in a tense standoff in the disputed areas of Pangong Tso
and Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh for over
two weeks.