Consulate condemns killings of Asian Americans
The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco on Wednesday strongly condemned recent violence against Asian Americans after the killings of two Chinese people in the city of Oakland.
In a statement released on its WeChat account, the consulate said the deaths of the two people of Chinese descent came amid a series of violent crimes committed against Asians in the United States. The statement also noted that others have suffered injuries in attacks against Asians.
The consulate expressed its firm condemnation of the crimes and extended its sympathies to the families of the victims.
Local media reported that Lili Xu, a Chinese-American dentist, was shot dead in an attempted robbery on Sunday in Oakland's Little Saigon area. People rallied outside the city hall on Monday and called on the government to address the hate crimes.
Xu's killing came just a month after that of Patrick Kon Woo Fung, a food delivery driver who was shot while he was in his car, also in the Little Saigon neighborhood, in another apparent robbery attempt.
Racial discrimination against Asian Americans in the US has become increasingly serious, with more hate crimes occurring, the consulate said in the statement. China has expressed its deep concerns over the issue and urged concrete measures from the US government to address racism, xenophobia and discrimination.
China called on the US government to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and protect their legitimate rights and interests. In the statement, the consulate reminded the Chinese in the San Francisco area to take care and raise the alert on anti-Asian hate crimes. If necessary, it said, they could protect their legitimate rights and interests via legal measures.