TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
'There's warmth in humanity': China reacts to Indonesian policeman singing 'Jiayou Wuhan'
Hans, a police officer of Sorolangun Police precinct in Jambi recently made the news in Indonesia after a video of him singing the song dedicated to encouraging people in Wuhan -- the epicenter of the virus outbreak -- made the rounds on social media, even gaining him international fame as he was interviewed by Chinese media.
Change Size
A woman wearing a protective facemask walks in front of a screen displaying support for China's efforts to contain the novel coronavirus, at a shopping mall in Bangkok on Feb. 4. - The hashtag #chinajiayou was used in the campaign as a slogan of encouragement for China's efforts to combat the new virus, which originated in the city of Wuhan. (Photo by Mladen ANTONOV / AFP) (AFP/Mladen ANTONOV)
T
he Chinese government has given a warm response to an Indonesian policeman who went viral on social media for singing the song "Jiayou, Wuhan" (Stay strong, Wuhan), saying it proves that "there's warmth in humanity" as people across the world cheer for China to remain strong in the face of the coronavirus outbreak.
Hans, a police officer of Sorolangun Police precinct in Jambi recently made the news in Indonesia after a video of him singing the song dedicated to encouraging people in Wuhan -- the epicenter of the virus outbreak -- made the rounds on social media, even gaining him international fame as he was interviewed by Chinese media.
In a video uploaded to YouTube on Feb. 2 by a user identified as Navid, Hans was seen singing the song with another man on singing app Smule, where Hans goes by the username ucok_hans and the other man went by username NavidLie88. The YouTube video description read "Singing with an Indonesian policeman".
An Indonesian-language Chinese media outlet later interviewed Hans, during which the policeman shared a bit about himself and said that although he had never been to China himself, he could sing several songs in Chinese. He also sang the "Jiayuou Wuhan" song during the interview, Antara reported.
"To my friends in Wuhan, we always pray for and support you and hope that the [coronavirus] outbreak will soon end," Hans said after singing the song.
In response to the viral video, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that during such a difficult time caused by the outbreak, the Chinese government acknowledged that Wuhan and China "is cheered on through social media by so many lovely people from all corners of the world."
"The virus is cold but there's warmth in humanity," Hua said in a briefing on Thursday.
"Let this friend from Indonesia know that the epidemic will pass one day, and when that day comes, we welcome all who support Wuhan and China to visit China, especially Wuhan," she added.
Indonesia recently evacuated 243 people – comprising 237 Indonesian nationals, including students, five Indonesian diplomats and a foreigner and the spouse of an Indonesian citizen – from cities in Hubei, including Wuhan, back to Indonesia to escape the fast-spreading virus.
They are currently undergoing a two-week observation period under quarantine in Natuna, Riau Islands. The Health Ministry confirmed on Monday that they were all healthy and not showing symptoms of coronavirus infection.
"I am glad to hear that the Indonesian students are in good condition, and when the epidemic is over, they are welcome to return and resume their studies and life in China," Hua said.
As of Friday, the death toll from the coronavirus hit 636, with Chinese authorities confirming that more than 30,000 people on the mainland had been infected, AFP reported. The far-flung virus has spread to more than 20 countries, with two deaths confirmed in the Philippines and Hong Kong. (afr)
