The Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom releases a statement on May 12, 2025, urging Chinese citizens living in the UK, as well as their families, to strengthen safety precautions and take measures to avoid losing contact. Photo: Screenshot of the statement

In response to the recent alert issued by the Chinese Embassy in the UK advising Chinese citizens in the UK to strengthen safety precautions, the embassy spokesperson said that it was a routine consular reminder, reported Xinhua News Agency on Wednesday local time.

Earlier, a reminder issued by the embassy on Monday urging safety precautions and warning against loss of contact drew significant attention from Chinese citizens. 

The spokesperson said there are currently about 200,000 Chinese students in the UK, and the embassy has recently seen a rise in assistance request concerning telecom fraud and temporary loss of contact with students. 

Most cases involved time zone differences delaying responses to family calls, staying up late to finish assignments and sleeping during the day, unwillingness to inform family about travel plans, or conflicts leading to refusal to communicate. Loss of contact due to telecom fraud is also relatively common, leading to an increase in reports from concerned family and friends seeking help from the embassy or consulate regarding missing persons, said the spokesperson.  

The spokesperson added that the embassy promptly issued the notice to address public concerns, reminding Chinese students and nationals in the UK to maintain open lines of communication, stay in touch with family and friends, inform them of travel plans in advance, guard against telecom fraud, and enhance necessary safety awareness and capabilities to prevent family members and friends back in China from worrying.

The earlier reminder stated that the embassy had recently received multiple requests for assistance related to missing or out-of-contact Chinese citizens. The embassy and consulates in the UK urged Chinese citizens and their relatives in the UK to strengthen safety precautions and avoid loss of contact.

The reminder advised that Chinese citizens in the UK should maintain regular contact with family, agree on code words for emergencies, share travel plans in advance, and communicate proactively in case of conflicts. It also advised relatives of Chinese citizens in the UK to keep comprehensive contact details, maintain regular communication, and seek assistance calmly in case of emergencies.

Global Times