After days of protests, Beijing tells Chinese nationals in LA to avoid trouble spots
BEIJING, June 9 — China's consulate in Los Angeles told its citizens in the area on Monday to strengthen personal security, after unrest in America's second-biggest city.
'Chinese citizens in the region (should) strengthen personal security measures, stay away from gatherings, crowded areas, or places with poor public security, and avoid going out at night or travelling alone,' the consulate said in a statement.
They should also 'closely monitor official announcements' and 'raise their safety awareness', it added.
Security forces faced off with protesters in the city on Sunday, as unruly protests over federal immigration raids continued for a third day, with President Donald Trump deploying National Guard troops.
Trump, who has made clamping down on illegal migration a key plank of his second term, vowed the troops would ensure 'very strong law and order'.
The deployment in California — the first over the head of a state governor since the Civil Rights era — was 'purposefully inflammatory,' Governor Gavin Newsom said.
The National Guard — a reserve military — is frequently used in natural disasters, and occasionally in instances of civil unrest, but almost always with the consent of local authorities. — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Mexican president rebukes violence in LA protests
Protests spread on the streets of Los Angeles over the weekend. (AP pic) MEXICO CITY : Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said today that she did not agree with violent acts committed during the massive protests that have broken out in Los Angeles against immigration raids. The leader, speaking from her morning press conference, also called on US authorities to respect the rule of law in migration processes. 'It must be clear: We condemn violence wherever it comes from,' Sheinbaum said. Protests spread on the streets of Los Angeles over the weekend over president Donald Trump's immigration enforcement as groups of protesters, many carrying Mexican flags and signs denouncing US immigration authorities, gathered in spots around the city. At least 42 Mexicans are being held in four detention centres after recent immigration raids in Los Angeles and four were deported, Mexico's foreign minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente said during today's press conference. 'We will continue our visits to monitor the Mexicans in detention centres in Los Angeles,' de la Fuente said. He added that the vast majority of Mexicans detained were working when they were arrested.
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
US, China seek to extend trade truce with London talks
US President Donald Trump accused China of violating a tariff de-escalation deal last month. (AP pic) LONDON : The US and China are to sit down at the negotiating table in London today to attempt to preserve a fragile truce on trade, despite simmering tensions. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and trade representative Jamieson Greer are leading the US delegation, president Donald Trump announced on Friday. Chinese vice-premier He Lifeng – who led Beijing's negotiating team at previous talks with the US last month in Geneva – would also head the team in London, China's foreign ministry announced at the weekend. 'The meeting should go very well,' Trump said on his Truth Social platform. His press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told Fox News today: 'We want China and the US to continue moving forward with the agreement that was struck in Geneva.' While the UK government reiterated that it was not involved in the content of the discussions in any way, a spokesman said: 'We are a nation that champions free trade.' UK authorities 'have always been clear that a trade war is in nobody's interests, so we welcome these talks', the spokesman added. Rare earths The talks in London come just a few days after Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping finally held their first publicly announced telephone talks since the Republican returned to the White House. Trump said the call, which took place on Thursday, had reached a 'very positive conclusion'. Xi was quoted by state-run news agency Xinhua as saying that 'correcting the course of the big ship of Sino-US relations requires us to steer well and set the direction'. The call came after tensions between the world's two biggest economies soared, with Trump accusing Beijing of violating a tariff de-escalation deal reached in Geneva in mid-May. 'We need China to comply with their side of the deal. And so that's what the trade team will be discussing tomorrow,' Leavitt said today. A key issue in the negotiations will be Beijing's shipments of rare earths – crucial to a range of goods including electric vehicle batteries and which have been a bone of contention for some time. 'Rare earth shipments from China to the US have slowed since President Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs in April,' said Kathleen Brooks, research director at trading group XTB. 'The US wants these shipments to be reinstated, while China wants the US to rethink immigration curbs on students, restrictions on access to advanced technology including microchips, and to make it easier for Chinese tech providers to access US consumers,' she added. In April, Trump introduced sweeping worldwide tariffs that targeted China most heavily. At one point the US hit China with additional levies of 145% on its goods as both sides engaged in tit-for-tat escalation. China's countermeasures on US goods reached 125%. Then in Switzerland, after two days of talks, the two sides agreed to slash their staggeringly high tariffs for 90 days. But differences have persisted, including over China's restrictions on exporting rare earth minerals. The impact was reflected in the latest official export data released today in Beijing. Exports to the US fell 12.7% on month in May, with China shipping US$28.8 billion worth in goods last month. This is down from US$33 billion in April, according to Beijing's general administration of customs. There is also huge uncertainty around the outcome of other trade disputes. 'Green channel' Throughout its talks with Washington, China has also launched discussions with other trading partners – including Japan and South Korea – in a bid to build a united front to counter Trump's tariffs. On Thursday, Beijing turned to Canada, with the two sides agreeing to regularise their channels of communication after a period of strained ties. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese Premier Li Qiang also discussed trade and the fentanyl crisis, Ottawa said. Beijing has also proposed establishing a 'green channel' to ease the export of rare earths to the European Union, and the fast-tracking approval of some export licenses. China is expected to host a summit with the EU in July, marking 50 years since Beijing and Brussels established diplomatic ties.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
America's cold shoulder to foreign students is worrying Asia
The Harvard Students for Freedom rally in support of international students at the Harvard University campus in Boston recently. The US government said it intends to cancel most foreign student visas. — AFP AN Ivy League degree has long been central to the Asian Dream – a ticket to success and status. But President Donald Trump's message to international students is clear: Far fewer of you are welcome. The blunt statement and growing chaos across the university sector has left families wondering if sending their children to America is still worth it. The White House's immediate target is Chinese students allegedly connected to the Communist Party. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the United States plans to start 'aggressively' revoking their visas. Students affected would include 'those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.' The US will also enhance scrutiny 'of all future visa applications from the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong,' he added. It's unclear how these rules will be executed; the move follows a short period of improved ties between the superpowers after they agreed to a truce in the trade war. China's Foreign Ministry has expressed its dissatisfaction, saying it had lodged a protest with the US. The impact is wider than Washington and Beijing's geopolitical rivalry. The decision to ban Harvard from enrolling international students is focusing minds in Asia, even though a federal judge has temporarily blocked the policy. Many families are wondering if other universities will be next. The rhetoric coming out of the White House is hardly reassuring. 'We have people who want to go to Harvard and other schools; they can't get in because we have foreign students there,' Trump had said. Students of other universities protesting in support of international students at Harvard University. — Bloomberg This attitude, combined with a directive ordering US embassies worldwide to stop scheduling interviews for student visas sends a chilling message to Asian students: The Ivy aspiration is no longer as accessible as it once was. The worries are pouring in on my parent chat groups. Many have already spent thousands of dollars preparing children for a future at a prestigious American university – hiring expensive college counsellors, visiting campuses, and investing countless hours navigating complex application processes. That's not to mention time spent on preparing for standardised tests and extracurricular activities, all in an effort to perfect the profile for a prospective candidate. There are also legitimate concerns about what happens to deposits and scholarships, all of which are up in the air as students and their families figure out what the new rules mean for them. It's no small cost. An average American degree can set an international student's family back approximately US$100,000 (RM42,300) over four years, excluding living costs. An Ivy League degree? It's more than triple that. Parents spend decades making sacrifices and putting aside the massive investment required to help their kids go to their dream university. The money is worth it, the thinking goes, because eventually their child will reap the rewards. The schools get something out of this, too. Foreign applicants are more likely to pay full tuition, essentially subsidising American students who receive aid. Over a million international students studied in American universities in the 2023-2024 school year, according to data from Open Doors, an information resource for foreign students studying or teaching in the US. Asians made up a significant proportion, with Indians and Chinese citizens accounting for over half. America is not going to lose its appeal overnight. It's still a coveted place to study, both because of its world-class tertiary education and the potential to find lucrative employment after graduation. But other countries are becoming more attractive because of the Trump administration's crackdown. Some parents I've spoken to will simply go elsewhere. Canada and the United Kingdom, already popular alternatives, are poised to scoop up disillusioned applicants. Closer to home, Australia and New Zealand are also promoting their schools. Asian universities that offer top-tier programs will appeal to anxious Asian families. Schools such as the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the University of Tokyo, and Malaysia's Sunway University are offering credit transfers and other incentives to attract ambitious students and families looking for quality education without the uncertainties tied to American foreign policy. For many Asian students who have dreamt of studying and working in cities like New York or Los Angeles, the political gyrations affecting their futures are no doubt disappointing. But this is about more than visas and policies. It's about the hopes of a generation searching for a place to study, grow, and build their future. Trump has just made the US seem like a far less inviting option. — Bloomberg Opinion/TNS Karishma Vaswani is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asia politics with a special focus on China.
