NEW DELHI: China on Monday decided to evacuate its citizens including students, tourists, and others who are facing difficulties in the country because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Chinese embassy has put out a notice on its website and advised those who wanted to go home can book tickets on special flights. This move comes as India is very soon entering into the list of 10 worst-hit nations by the novel coronavirus. Another reason behind this step is high military tension between India and China.

The deadly coronavirus which took its birth in Wuhan, China in the last year has spread to more than 190 countries and has claimed the lives of more than 3.4 lakh people across the world. India had evacuated more than 700 Indians from Wuhan in February. The notice reads as, “Through the unified arrangement of the ministry of foreign affairs and relevant departments, the Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in India will assist international students in India, tourists, temporary business visitors who have difficulties and are in urgent need to take a temporary flight back home to China.”

The notice also said that people who are infected with COVID-19 or having symptoms of infection like fever and cough in the last 14 days should not board the special flights. It is said that if anyone's temperature exceeds 37.3 degrees before boarding or if anyone has suspected symptoms then they will be refused boarding by the airline.

The notice suggested people that the cost of the flight ticket and quarantine in China will have to be borne by the evacuees China's ambassador to India, Sun Weidong posted in his Twitter that, "Donations from JackMa Foundation & Alibaba Foundation, including ventilators, PPE & other medical supplies arrived in Delhi. China will continue to support India in the fight against COVID-19. Solidarity & cooperation are the most effective weapons against the virus."

The exact number of Chinese nationals in India was not clear. Reports say that a total of 1,089 Chinese nationals had registered on work visas in 2019. More number of Chinese nationals are present in the states Maharashtra and Karnataka.