Thousands of software experts, garment exporters and businessmen who have lived for years in Chinese cities such as Dalian, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou were suddenly dragged into the
Protesters hold banners protesting China in the capital New Delhi, India, on June 19.
Indian and Chinese soldiers have clashed many times in recent months in the Ladakh area, along the LAC, the unclearly demarcated border between the two countries.
At its peak on June 15, Indian and Chinese troops clashed for many hours in the Galwan valley in Ladakh, using rocks and sticks to fight, leaving 20 Indian soldiers dead and at least 76 injured.
This is the bloodiest clash on the India-China border in the past 45 years.
In that context, Indians in China, some of whom are married to local women, are suffering from feelings of guilt and ridicule for refusing to return home.
The Covid-19 pandemic in China is no longer a concern.
`There is no panic. We are completely free and have no problems with the local government. The neighbors are very friendly and concerned about our health. Why do we want to return to India
Shashi came to the southern Chinese city 17 years ago, founding the YouTube channel `Shashi4x`.
`Let’s keep peace during the pandemic,` said Li Lan, Shashi’s Chinese wife.
Shashi Shiraguppi with his wife and children in the Chinese city of Shenzhen.
According to the 2010 census in China, there were 600,000 foreigners living in the country, of which Indians accounted for 3%.
`We are watching news channels here about the border fighting. After the conflict broke out, I could no longer read my usual Indian newspaper,` Kumar said.
Meanwhile, Chinese media blamed India for the `unprovoked attack` on the border.
`The information here is completely different. Both India and China are trying to justify their actions,` said Kumar, who grew up in New Delhi and came to Dalian to work in 2008.
Regarding the lives of Indians in China, Kumar said markets are still open, the public transport system has resumed operations and the pandemic is under control.
Dalian’s IT center has up to 15,000 Indian software professionals.
`It’s unnecessary hype on social media. The locals are very friendly and they have a lot of respect for Indians,` said V Vijay, who works for an American software company in Dalian
S A Oviya, who is studying at Dalian Medical University, has returned to his hometown of Tirupur in India since December 2019.
She insists that her eagerness to work in China amid escalating tensions with India does not make her a traitor to her country.
`That doesn’t make our patriotism any less,` Vijay said.