中国のマクドナルド店舗、黒人の入店禁止で物議　米本社が謝罪

【北京ＡＦＰ＝時事】米ファストフード大手マクドナルドは、中国南部の店舗で黒人の入店禁止が掲示され、インターネット上で怒りの声が噴出したことを受けて謝罪した。この店舗がある都市では、アフリカ人への差別的対応が相次いで報告されている。（写真はマクドナルドのロゴ）
　問題となったのは、広東省広州の店舗。地元当局が、移民が多い地区で新型コロナウイルス感染症（ＣＯＶＩＤ-１９）のクラスター（感染者集団）が発生したと発表した後に、警察とアフリカ人らの間で緊張が高まっていた。
　対立が深刻化する中、あるマクドナルドの店舗での黒人の入店禁止という掲示を捉えた投稿がインターネットで広く共有された。
　これを受けてマクドナルドが謝罪。同社広報担当者はＡＦＰに対し、この掲示は「わが社の包摂（ほうせつ）性を重視する価値観を表すものではなかった」と説明した。
　同社は「お客様に対し、無許可で告知を行ったことが判明してすぐに」この掲示を撤去するとともに、同店を一時的に閉鎖したと、電子メールで明らかにした。
　複数のアフリカ人がＡＦＰに語ったところによると、警察による宿泊施設からの強制退去や、店舗や食堂の利用拒否、大規模な検査や恣意（しい）的な隔離が行われているという。
　事態は外交問題にも発展し、１３日には２０か国以上のアフリカ諸国大使や公使らが、中国外務省の高官に面会した。
　国営新華社通信が報じたところによると、広州市の副市長は１３日、アフリカ諸国籍の１１１人に新型ウイルスへの感染が確認され、その内の１９症例は感染者の入国によるものだったことを明らかにした。
　同副市長は、４日以降に４５５３人の滞在者が核酸増幅検査を受けたとしているが、その前日には広州市に滞在するアフリカ諸国の人の数が４５５３人と同市職員によって言及されていたため、その全員が検査の対象となったことが示唆されたかたちだ。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/04/15-13:11）

US chain McDonald's has apologised after a sign telling black people they were banned from entering a branch in southern China prompted outrage online, following reports of discriminatory treatment towards Africans in the city.
Tensions have flared between police and Africans in the southern metropolis of Guangzhou after local officials announced a cluster of COVID-19 cases in a neighbourhood with a large migrant population.
As the row escalated, posts widely shared online showed a sign at fast food chain McDonald's saying black people were not allowed to enter the restaurant.
The chain apologised and a spokesman for McDonald's told AFP that the notice was not representative of our inclusive values.
In an emailed statement, Mcdonald's said it removed the sign and temporarily closed the Guangzhou restaurant immediately upon learning of an unauthorized communication to our guests.
Several Africans have told AFP they had been forcibly evicted by police from their accommodation, refused service at shops and restaurants, and were subject to mass testing and arbitrary quarantines.
The row has also prompted a diplomatic flurry, with ambassadors and envoys from more than 20 African countries meeting assistant foreign minister Chen Xiaodong on Monday.
Chen promised at the meeting to lift the health management (measures) on African people, except the confirmed patients, according to a foreign ministry statement.
He said the Guangdong government is constantly taking measures to improve and act according to the principle of non-discrimination.
The statement said Chen asked the envoys to look at the big picture of China-Africa friendship.
Diplomatic sources told AFP a number of African countries had written a joint letter to the foreign ministry, which condemned the discrimination and stigmatisation of Africans in China, but had not yet sent it.
Guangzhou's US consulate issued an alert on Saturday advising African-Americans to avoid travel to the city due to the targeted crackdown, and the US accused Chinese authorities of xenophobia toward Africans.
Beijing has also accused the US of using the row for political purposes to drive a wedge between China and Africa.
A total of 111 African nationals in Guangzhou have tested positive for COVID-19, including 19 imported cases, said the city's executive vice mayor on Monday, according to Xinhua.
He said that 4,553 Africans had undergone nucleic acid testing in Guangzhou since April 4.
But city officials said on Sunday that 4,553 African nationals are currently living in Guangzhou -- suggesting every African registered in the city has been tested.