Two weeks after the end of the hiatus on flights from India to Australia, the repatriation of the 9,000-plus Australian citizens who wish to return home has resumed, albeit slowly. But the repercussions are immense: at least two Australian citizens died from Covid-19 in India in recent weeks, and Australia’s decision to prevent its own citizens from entering the country was aired worldwide. The country’s reputation as a nation built on just and fair principles has undoubtedly suffered.
It did not go without notice that many of the Australian citizens affected were of Indian heritage, leading many to question whether there was a racial element involved. For Indian Australians, it revived uncomfortable feelings of being considered second- or third-class citizens.
Westerners grow wary of China travel over threat of detention
Since citizens of several nations are being held by Chinese authorities, admittedly to pressure their governments, some in the business community seek alternatives to in-person dealings
Bloomberg
As the research director of an activist investor, Anne Stevenson-Yang, cofounder of J Capital Research, made business trips to China from the US almost monthly before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. However, she has strong reservations about going back, even after the pandemic subsides.
Some who do business with China are increasingly worried about the risk of being swept up by security agents and becoming casualties of geopolitical tensions between Beijing and the West.