Stronger Measures Needed

Despite these efforts, there is much more that embassies and consulates can and should do to better protect Chinese citizens abroad. China should learn from the practices of other countries and invest more resources in carrying out this duty. At present there are only 600 embassy and consulate officials handling security issues for some 60 million Chinese nationals abroad. This means that each official is responsible for 100,000 people every year – an impossible task.

China also needs to introduce more laws to protect Chinese citizens abroad and ensure their enforcement. For example, if China is to keep its citizens safe, its Emergence Response Law, enacted in 2007 and designed solely for emergencies at home, must be amended to cover overseas crises threatening Chinese establishments and nationals.

Furthermore, the safety of Chinese nationals abroad could be further improved if China were to sign international labor cooperation pacts that oblige other signatory countries to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and workers in their countries. In a situation where Chinese businesses' and nationals' properties and safety were in danger, police or other authorities in these countries would then be obligated to intervene in order to minimize losses to Chinese corporations and citizens.

At present, domestic insurers have yet to provide insurance specializing in the life and property of Chinese expatriates. The need for such services is real and rising along with the growing number of Chinese businesses and individuals heading to other parts of the world. The first step China should take is to establish a risk fund for Chinese enterprises and workers abroad, with the initial investment coming from both the government and enterprises. This would provide Chinese enterprises and citizens another source of aid in case of injury or loss of life or wealth in emergency situations abroad.

At the same time, the Chinese companies should take responsibility for their own employees. Corporations operating abroad should make their own emergency response plans and offer relevant training to their employees, preparing them for potential dangers with useful knowledge and skills. It would also be wise for them to hire security guards, either directly from the local population or through a third party.

In a world were political upheavals and natural catastrophes could happen at the drop of a hat, such efforts and expenditure on the part of the government and companies are worthwhile. With the knowledge that there are those at hand who can help avoid or alleviate serious situations that may inflict losses of life and money, the Chinese who engage with the world outside of China will be able to do so with more confidence and assurance.

Wang Jinglie is director of the Middle East Section of the Institute of West Asian and African Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).