When Chinese are captured on foreign soil
- Source: Global Times
- [01:43 December 29 2009]
- Comments
With China's presence expanding globally, Chinese are increasingly becoming the target of hostile activities on foreign soil, such as kidnappings. That means emergency response plans are needed for everyone from individuals to governments.
After being held by Somalian pirates for two months, 25 Chinese sailors and the ship Dexinhai were released in the wee hours Monday.
But similar abductions do not always conclude with a happy ending. In October 2008, four of the nine Chinese staff members of CNPC kidnapped in Sudan were killed by their kidnappers.
There are over 600,000 Chinese from some 8,000 Chinese companies working in 168 countries and regions, and they could fall prey to local outlaws for economic or political reasons.
The old principle that the harmless will not be harmed does not hold true any longer.
According to Hiscox, a London-based insurer, Chinese, French and German nationals have become the top three targets for kidnappers worldwide.
Chinese navy ships have been patrolling piracy-stricken sea routes since early this year, but military escorts are far from enough given China's fast-growing ocean transportation following its increasing global business presence.
Chinese commercial ships still have a learning curve in things like filing escort requirements properly and following the shipping routes.
Hostage rescue usually involves difficult negotiations and complicated military operations.
The drama of hostages being captured and rescued easily excites media, but footage that boosts ratings may disrupt the rescue process.
It should be an understanding among media outlets that when kidnapping happens, the life of the hostage trumps the public's right to know.
When David Rohde, the New York Times reporter, was captured in Afghanistan in 2008 and held captive for seven months, the Times persuaded numerous influential media organizations to keep a lid on the story until he fled successfully. The strategy of minimizing the significance of the captive is an important lesson we should learn.
In rescuing the sailors of the Dexinhai, it was reported that the pirates raised their ransom demands when the media broke the news that the ship was covered by nearly $40 million in insurance and the insurance company was initiating the compensation process. Family members of the sailors were quoted as saying that they would like to put together all their assets for the ransom.
The protection of Chinese citizens overseas takes broad economic, diplomatic and defense efforts, and an efficient mechanism to coordinate different departments.
We have our work cut out for us.
