Chinese consulate helps stranded students at Zurich airport

As the pandemic and protests against racism escalate in the US and in other Western countries, panic has risen among Chinese students studying overseas. A growing number of students have tried to fly back to China, but have suffered from flight cancellations or sometimes been stranded in a transit airport.

China’s Consulate General in Zurich and for the Principality of Liechtenstein told the Global Times on Wednesday that they received a consulate protection call from 21 Chinese stranded in Zurich Airport as they could not board a flight due to local epidemic-control measures. Among them, 17 are Chinese students studying overseas.

The consulate general assigned staff with protective kits and food to help the compatriots, and arranged accommodations for them.

The consulate general has been negotiating with the airport and other related parties on the stranded students for next trip.

The response came after an article on WeChat said early Wednesday morning that 22 Chinese students are stranded at Zurich Airport. The stranded students are likely to be sent back to the US and other departure locations. However, many of their visas have expired, the article said.

Zhang Sheng, a fresh graduate of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, told the Global Times on Wednesday that he flew back from New York on May 27 for fear of the pandemic.

Many Chinese students overseas have to stay abroad as international flights have been strictly restricted, and the students worry about getting infected with the coronavirus on the flights. But recent unrest and chaos from the anti-racism protests have thrown the students into fear and intensified their desire to return home, Zhang said.

Zhang shared with the Global Times some details of the riots he heard of in Washington DC and Baltimore where he lived. “My friends saw armored vehicles, helicopters and National Guardsmen. During the riots, they saw shops smashed and burning cars.”