The US Embassy published a notice today concerning possible threats against Westerns in Beijing’s Sanlitun on Christmas Day. The notice reads, “The U.S. Embassy has received information of possible threats against Westerners in the Sanlitun area of Beijing, on or around Christmas Day. U.S. citizens are encouraged to exercise heightened vigilance. The U.S. Embassy has issued the same guidelines to U.S. government personnel.”
The Global Times reported that the notice was only posted on the Embassy’s English website, and was not released on the Chinese website. The U.S. State Department’s Worldwide Travel Alert message is still in effect. The travel alert warns U.S. citizens to possible risks of travel due to increase terrorist threats.
The notice included the U.S. Embassy’s address and contact information. The Embassy also recommends that citizens enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and “make it easier to locate you in an emergency.”
Source: inews.qq.com
Warning：The use of any news and articles published on eChinacities.com without written permission from eChinacities.com constitutes copyright infringement, and legal action can be taken.
Keywords: Beijing terrorist threat Sanlitun US Embassy
All comments are subject to moderation by eChinacities.com staff. Because we wish to encourage healthy and productive dialogue we ask that all comments remain polite, free of profanity or name calling, and relevant to the original post and subsequent discussion. Comments will not be deleted because of the viewpoints they express, only if the mode of expression itself is inappropriate.
Please login to add a comment. Click here to login immediately.
I laugh at this threat. I have never felt more safe in my last 13 years than I have in China. No guns, no crazy people that try to destory groups of people every month like my country the U.S does, Yes China has bad days but very few.. I'll take agruing and spitting fools over people with guns any day.
Dec 25, 2015 22:49 Report Abuse
Have warnings like this one been issued normally in the past - how often do expats in Beijing get threatened in such a manner?
Dec 25, 2015 19:24 Report Abuse
This is the first time I have seen such a warning posted by the Embassy since perhaps the Olympics year when the French protested China's Olympics by causing minor troubles when the torch went through France, this was back in 2008. Back at that time some international people shopping at Carrefours around China, especially the Hunan one, were subjected to threats or beatdowns by mobs of angry and out of control locals. Security was beefed up and as I recall the worst of it was some damage to local people to themselves and some scared international shoppers. Rarely do locals do unreasonable things to international visitors, except the random thieves and even they are careful. It is always a good idea to know how things are between China and whatever country you are from because as long as Chinese are happy on an international level, you are going to be quite safe here, unless you are the type that does things that would get you into trouble back at home. There was this one incident during the past summer outside the Sanlitun Uniqlo where a month before there was a video of two locals making love in the dressing room that spread around social media like wildfire. A guy carrying a katana blade attacked and murdered a newly wedded Chinese woman while her French hubby helplessly watched. Perhaps this is what Mr. Sorrel in the #2 slot might have meant when mentioning those with Chinese wives or girlfriends. I would like to think this was an isolated incident but we all should be careful and be responsible so not to make the wrong kind of people take notice and start issues. For the most part, China is fairly safe and as long as you are polite and kind to the locals, they are glad to have you around and will do their best to make your life easy in China.
Dec 26, 2015 15:46 Report Abuse
Thanks for the informative reply, yep, it makes sense, I did not have any trouble back in 2009 when I've visited Beijing and Chongqing for the first time, did not see any out the ordinary either (compared to where I live...) I'm currently job hunting, wanna go back to China, so news like this is always good to know.
Dec 26, 2015 18:21 Report Abuse
@The Final Say - Ms. Sorrel actually (LOL). A good number of guys on this forum and who i know personally, with Chinese wives/gf's, have experienced verbal abuse and threatening behaviour from local Chinese guys. Not to mention the abuse the women receive that they do not report to their partner. There are many insecure Chinese guys, when full of dutch courage and/or with their mates, will use any pretext to attack non-Chinese.
Dec 27, 2015 17:27 Report Abuse
My apologies, Ms. Sorrel. I know what you are saying, I have heard of it before and personally experienced it on a small level. Most of the time, people leave me alone. Perhaps the reason is that I am athletic in build and very alert and serious while in public, always aware and looking around to see who is sharing the streets or rooms with me. Having said that, when in public it is a good idea to keep your wits about you and be street smart. I am always watching out when around large crowds on the streets, this is where thieves thrive so if someone is distracted by a commotion or street performer, that is the likely spot to find trouble. I do not go to the night club without a group of people and I like a healthy mix of locals to join, this way if anyone from other groups decides to get wise, locals usually sort it out peacefully. I never recommend getting drunk in public in this country, especially with your Chinese woman, because if you are a gentleman your first rule of thumb should be to defend her and keep her safe and behave with her honor in mind and once you lose your wits, you fail at this. This is not our country, those of us who are international, and unless we are with people we absolutely trust, why take such a risk? In addition, I read a lot of news and whenever there is something going on that makes locals get excited, I take that as my cue to remain low key and just wait it out until things calm down. If one keeps a modest and low profile, remains as polite as social etiquette demands, doesn't show off, avoids not so well known places where people's emotions get enhanced such as certain bars, saunas, and KTVs, and smiles and shows respect to the people around,one will minimize the risk. It helps to learn to communicate in Chinese, especially the polite and useful terminology, because the more you can say the more respect they feel you are offering to them and also will see you put a lot of thought and effort into your relationship. You cannot convince all of the people not to judge but if you do everything as you should do, even other locals will tell the troublemakers to back down. Anyway, I just wanted to say this because I don't think we should fear or worry too much but we should always keep alert and respectful while being guests here.
Dec 27, 2015 20:59 Report Abuse
It has been my observation that the non-Chinese guys quietly minding their own business, even walking down the street with their wife/gf, are those more likely to be subject to random abuse from local males. Where alcohol is involved, non-Chinese guys with said wife/gf are more likely to be more moderate in their drinking. Unfortunately there are many Chinese guys, fueled by numbers (they generally are more brave in groups) who see such couples as easy targets. There are many men who have married Chinese women and have family ties, and China is their home, so to call them 'guests' is insulting.
Dec 28, 2015 18:23 Report Abuse
Hey, I meant no insult, just a truth about this particular country. As I am also in the same situation, I feel I am able to comment on it with fair knowledge. I cannot get a green card without fronting an enormous amount of cash for business purposes. I cannot get a citizenship status here, even were I to cancel my citizenship, which I would not. I must apply for visas, register with the local authorities, and be subjected to random checkings at will, meaning I am a guest of this country. Though I have been here a few years, this is just a truth, not an insult. If you think this is an insult, perhaps take it up with the ones in charge of policies. But I know that doesn't work. Even married folk still need a working visa to earn their keep, giving powers to the boss instead of family, unlike in the west where once your spouse is in the country and legally married, they are entitled to earn without many restrictions. What can you do, this is China and this is how it is here. We can choose to accept it, like I do, or we can move on, like some have done since 2012 when the policies became more strict. Anyway, I am not insulting anyone even though this too is my home. We can want something, we can ask for it, but it doesn't change the facts until the people in control decide to do so.
Dec 30, 2015 10:09 Report Abuse
I don't call non-nationals in my home country 'guests'. Nor do i treat guests as poorly as some Chinese treat non-Chinese workers. By accepting the label 'guest' you are buying into the second class opinion many Chinese have for non-Chinese workers and visitors.
Dec 31, 2015 19:16 Report Abuse
I happen to like China and for the things people complain about, I think it is a decent country to live in most of the time, I mostly enjoy my time here. Nowhere is perfect and this attitude I carry comes from experience, as I can see how things are for myself. I am not sure where I went wrong with you. I don't know you that I recall, and my goals here have always to share my point of view in either an informative way or set a positive example. How you wish to use your home style language is your business and your right. Nobody should judge this. I am not sure why you said "insulting" and after I explained myself, you still seem to hold a negative view towards my words, meaning we have a difference of opinion on the language usage, which is ok and it is normal in an international setting. However, I'd like to think that a simple word shouldn't be overly debated and this is not really related to the topic. Furthermore if I have said anything to disturb you, my apologies. Different people use words differently but I'd like to think our intentions start out well. Anyway, although I regret furthering this topic with you to bring about negativity, I couldn't have known you'd take offense to something I wrote. I wish you well, in sincerity.
Jan 01, 2016 18:10 Report Abuse
My embassy emailed all of us with this warning. People FFS don't be seen to enjoy yourself too much in front of Chinese people, especially if you have a Chinese wife/gf.
Dec 24, 2015 19:06 Report Abuse
Sign up with
Google
(
(