Her partner was also in Wuhan, but faced visa issues and she began to feel “less welcome” in the city she once considered “home.”
“Suddenly strangers started telling me to go home. People saw me riding the elevator and were waiting for the next one. When Diddy [a ride-hailing app] When the driver I ordered arrived and realized I was a foreigner, he refused to take me,” said the 30-year-old.
Redding said the situation has eased after the pandemic, but her experience has left her feeling treated like an outsider.
“I still have a lot of great friends in Wuhan and all over China. That’s why I stayed so long… But all these little unusual conversations and interactions make me feel kind of tired and tired. “All the great things about living in China are starting to weigh on me,” she said.
According to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, in the 10 years up to November 2020, the first year of the pandemic, the number of foreigners living in Shanghai fell by more than 20% to 164,000, and in Beijing by 40% to 63,000. became. .
These are the latest figures available, but two more years of strict pandemic measures are expected to result in even more foreign residents leaving the country.
02:23
American family forced to leave for first time in 16 years due to coronavirus lockdown in Shanghai
American family forced to leave for first time in 16 years due to coronavirus lockdown in Shanghai
Redding is not the only foreigner based in China who feels that there is a growing coldness towards outsiders.
James Campion, a British translator and proofreader who left China last July, said he had noticed a subtle change in Chinese people’s attitudes and found it harder to make new friends.
“Starting the conversation wasn’t that easy. There seemed to be a subtle hesitation on the part of some locals, perhaps reflecting a heightened awareness of geopolitical tensions,” he said.
Other scars from the zero-corona era still remain. A Russian-born art teacher from the United States who left Shanghai for 13 years said her decision to return to the United States was primarily due to concerns that authorities could once again impose strict restrictions on people’s movements and activities. said.
‘Unattractive’: China’s efforts to attract talent hit by the legacy of zero coronavirus
‘Unattractive’: China’s efforts to attract talent hit by the legacy of zero coronavirus
“I like Chinese people. I like Chinese food. I like a lot of things. I grew up in Russia, in almost the same system. We have a lot of similarities, I understand that too,” said a woman in her 60s who gave her name only as M.
“But I don’t think there’s any guarantee that will happen.” [this] It won’t happen again.Just lock it [down] in the same way.
“People are afraid of repeating the same experience. No one wants to be away from their family for three years. That’s a long time. No one knows if the coronavirus will come back.”
James Zimmerman, a partner at the international law firm Perkins Coie and former president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, attributes the factors behind individuals leaving their jobs to “the economic downturn, compliance risks, and geopolitics.” “It’s a combination of tensions,” he said. – It was also driving businesses away.
US warns African Americans to avoid Guangzhou due to fear of discrimination
US warns African Americans to avoid Guangzhou due to fear of discrimination
“While China is a potentially large and attractive consumer market, a number of geopolitical issues are making foreign companies reconsider whether to stay or expand in the market,” he said. Ta.
But Zimmerman said if these concerns continue, he expects “the level of strategic reshoring, nearshoring and offshoring to more friendly countries to accelerate.”
“Policies aimed at retaining expat communities must keep in mind the larger issues mentioned above. No tax breaks or incentives will bring them back unless the larger issues are resolved. ” he said.
Some of these concerns could be addressed by relaxing visa policies and even residency requirements, said Wang Huiyao, founder and director of the Center for China and Globalization, a Beijing-based think tank.
“China may consider relaxing its ‘green card’ policy for outstanding foreign talent, including those who have made special contributions and innovative entrepreneurs,” he said.
China slams ‘malicious foreign forces’ over anti-espionage law
China slams ‘malicious foreign forces’ over anti-espionage law
“China may also consider allowing international students to take internships in China, and universities could offer more English language programs to attract international students.”
“Nowadays, many people overseas [news] Some hotels have channels available, but why not take it one step further and allow foreigners to use the hotel’s internet to smoothly access foreign websites? This will help further strengthen their attachment to China,” he said.
02:28
Chinese government raids offices of consulting firm CapVision as crackdown expands over national security
Chinese government raids offices of consulting firm CapVision as crackdown expands over national security
“By leveraging the resources of businesses, universities and NGOs, China can also invite more foreigners to China and promote people-to-people exchanges with other countries.”
China on Thursday announced a series of new policies to ease entry and visa procedures in a bid to attract more international travelers and restore people-to-people exchanges.
The new regulations, announced by the National Immigration Authority and effective immediately, relax eligibility requirements for entry visas, exempt border checks for transit at certain airports, and allow applications for entry visas, extensions of stay, and multiple entries. The purpose is to streamline procedures. I allow it.
That number plummeted from 11,639 in the 2018-19 academic year to just 211 in the 2021-22 academic year, according to the Institute for International Education’s Opendoor database.
How we avoided lockdown and quarantine as coronavirus hits Shanghai Art Fair
How we avoided lockdown and quarantine as coronavirus hits Shanghai Art Fair
According to statistics from China’s Ministry of Education, the number of international students at domestic higher education institutions has declined by more than 20% from its peak in 2019 to 255,720 in 2021.
However, many of these foreign graduates struggle to find jobs that allow them to stay, even if they secure work visas.
“After graduating, life became difficult. The requirements to get a work permit are not very achievable for a new graduate or a Nigerian,” said Annie Akinnuoye, 22.
Akinnuoye studied at a Chinese university for four years and worked in China for an additional year, but was forced to leave in July because he could not find a suitable job that met his work visa requirements.
“I was financially exhausted after spending four years as a self-funded student and wanted to get a stable job to stay in China. This was the main reason I left China.” she said.
A Shanghai-based visa counselor with more than 10 years of experience said the overall environment and vetting process has become stricter for foreigners wishing to stay in China due to safety concerns. However, the demand for visas to China remained high and continued to increase.
“We receive hundreds of inquiries every day regarding visa applications to China. Most of them are foreigners from Africa and Central Asian countries,” he said.
“It’s a question of being inside or outside the circle. Many foreigners in China may find this country bad or unpleasant and choose to leave the country. But more of foreigners, especially those from developing countries, see China as an opportunity and want to come here.”