China to offer consular protection to Taiwan compatriots if requested, says diplomat

China will provide help to Taiwan compatriots if they request consular protection in such an emergency as the recent unrest in the Solomon Islands, said a senior official with the Chinese Foreign Ministry Friday.

"We will provide assistance to them with no hesitation if they request consular protection in similar cases in the future," said Wei Wei, deputy general of the Foreign Ministry's consular department, at the international press center.

When responding to a Honk Kong journalist, Wei said Hong Kong compatriots residing in other countries could ask for help from Chinese embassy or consulate once they are confronted with any trouble.

He noted that compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are all under China's consular protection, and China will make all efforts to protect them within capacity.

The Chinese government sent a chartered plane to evacuate 310 overseas Chinese including 21 Hong Kong compatriots from the riot-torn Solomon Islands.

There were altogether about 600 overseas Chinese in Solomon Islands before the riot happened. Now all of them have evacuated to China or other countries such as Australia and New Zealand, according to Wei.

Source: Xinhua