To average Chinese citizens, diplomacy used to mean something state leaders did on TV when they shook hands with each other, or a deal signed between two countries. Sometimes, people even connect diplomatic services with James Bond movies believing that retired diplomats all live a good life and profit generously from writing their memoirs.
Nowadays, this veil over diplomacy is being removed and people from all walks of life are becoming familiar with the concept of diplomacy and diplomatic policies, thanks to the Chinese Government's strengthened practice of "diplomacy serving the people."
On July 21, Zhao Yan, a 37-year-old businesswoman from Tianjin, felt tired during her sightseeing of the Niagara Falls. She stopped for a rest near the Rainbow Bridge linking the United States and Canada. She paid a high price for her rest. A U.S. custom officer assaulted Zhao with his knee and then drove her head into the pavement because he suspected her of being involved with confiscated marijuana.
The incident was immediately made known to the top diplomatic channels, with Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing discussing it during a telephone call with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Li urged the United States to carry out a serious and thorough investigation into the beating incident. "Those responsible for the incident should receive legal punishment," the Chinese foreign minister insisted.
"We regret the apparent mistreatment of a Chinese national by a U.S. customs officer in Niagara Falls. We have communicated to the Chinese Government that the U.S. customs officer was arrested by the Customs and Border Patrol Police and his case referred for criminal prosecution," the U.S. State Department said in a statement released on July 29. The United States will continue to work to ensure that incidents such as this one do not occur again, the statement added.
The handling of Zhao Yan's incident is a reflection of the Chinese Government's intensified efforts to protect legitimate rights and interests of Chinese abroad.
On March 6, 2004, Foreign Minister Li made a brief introduction to China's diplomatic work and international and regional issues at a press conference during the Second Session of the 10th National People's Congress.
He said that China's diplomatic work in the new era carried out the principle of putting people first and administration for the people. In 2003, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) coordinated with relevant agencies, regions, and countries to effectively handle incidents such as the leaking of abandoned Japanese chemical weapons in China, the fire in the Russian Friendship University that caused some Chinese casualties, the bankruptcy of a language school in New Zealand that left some Chinese students stranded, and the evacuations of Chinese nationals on the eve of the Iraqi war and during turmoil in Liberia.
"In the future, we will continue to care for the interests of our people, address people's concerns and try our best to do concrete deeds to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese legal persons and citizens in the international arena, including mainland people as well as compatriots from Taiwan,
Hong Kong and Macao," promised the minister.
After China opened its door to the world, more and more Chinese pay visits to foreign countries. The number of overseas visits by Chinese citizens, which stood at only 200,000 in 1978, had increased 100 times to 20.2 million in 2003. As a result of their wider and more frequent presence in other countries around the world, Chinese citizens overseas have to think more about their security when they are out of the country.
To the public's satisfaction, Chinese diplomats stationed abroad have so far done a fairly good job of providing prompt help to Chinese citizens involved in overseas troubles.
Luo Tianguang, Director General of the Department of Consular Affairs under the MFA, noted that the ministry has been working hard to improve its system to provide Chinese citizens abroad with better consular protection. The shield covers personal safety, right of abode, property rights, employment rights, social welfare, humanitarian treatment of Chinese citizens overseas and guarantees of normal access to Chinese consulates.
According to Luo, the MFA issued its first Guide Book for Consular Protection and Services Abroad in 2000, with the aim to "make it convenient for Chinese citizens to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests through China's embassies and consulates during their travel, work, study or stay abroad," he continued. In May 2003, a new and more practical version of the Guide Book was published and is now available free in all of China's overseas institutions.
Luo also disclosed that the MFA had built an emergency response mechanism, which would be activated in case of any major incident that involves mass deaths, injuries or property loss of Chinese citizens. The mechanism involves the establishment of an emergency response team, drafting of a comprehensive plan, gathering of information, setting up of a 24-hour telephone hotline and coordination among related departments for dealing with emergencies. Such a mechanism was proven critically useful in securing the release of the seven Chinese hostages kidnapped in Iraq in April, Luo said.
Seven Chinese citizens were abducted by Iraqi militants in Fallujah, west of Baghdad on April 11 after they entered Iraq via Jordan. Chinese leaders were highly concerned with the case and instructed the MFA and Chinese Embassy in Baghdad to make utmost efforts for an early release of the hostages. Chinese diplomats in Baghdad immediately set up rescue work and formed a special task force. They asked local authorities to take every necessary measure to determine the identity of the kidnappers and the location of the hostages, and to rescue the seven under the precondition of ensuring their safety. On April 13, with the help of a local association of Islamic clerics, the seven hostages were freed safe and sound. After being released, Xue Yougui, one of the hostages, told the diplomats, "We were not scared. We believed that you would come to save us."
Associate Professor Zhang Lili of China Foreign Affairs University said that the unprecedented emphasis placed on Chinese citizens' personal security marks the beginning of a new role for China's diplomatic officers.
To better ensure the security of its citizens overseas, the Chinese Government has established a special department to administrate related affairs. On July 6, Zhang Qiyue, MFA Spokeswoman announced the establishment of the Department of External Security Affairs within the ministry.
The department will implement the ministry's principles and policies concerning non-traditional security and coordinate and handle relevant issues, said Zhang.
Nowadays, more than 500,000 Chinese laborers and the same number of Chinese students working and studying abroad around the world every year. And thousands of Chinese people may also be smuggled into other countries and regions.
Generally, Chinese abroad face risks ranging from labor disputes, fraud, illegal detention, kidnappings, crime and terrorist attacks. As a result, their legitimate rights may be violated by others or they may harm the interests of others through illegal activities.
Experts point out the complexity and urgency of the problem should prompt the MFA and other government bodies to come up with more specific measures to protect Chinese citizens.
They suggest China learn from Western countries to establish a sound and effective system to minimize risks for Chinese citizens overseas.
