Recently, the Chinese Embassy in Ecuador issued a notice stating that the security situation in Ecuador has once again become severe, with violent crimes occurring frequently in coastal areas, causing multiple casualties. Chinese citizens and institutions are reminded to pay attention to personal and property safety, raise their awareness of self-protection, travel to coastal areas of Ecuador with caution, and avoid going out alone or at night.

It is understood that the embassy issued the notice because Ecuador's internal armed conflict continues and the country has become mired in a diplomatic crisis. As early as January this year, the Ecuadorian government raised the security level of prisons, prompting protests from some drug-trafficking gangs, with multiple drug lords escaping from prison and riots breaking out in several prisons across the country, leading to a 60-day nationwide state of emergency. Then on January 9, armed personnel attacked public facilities and other serious incidents occurred; the country's president declared a state of "internal armed conflict" and called on the armed forces and police to crack down on organized crime nationwide. Later, on March 7, the Ecuadorian president signed an executive decree extending the national state of emergency by 30 days. Although the presidential office announced the end of the national state of emergency on April 8, the "internal armed conflict" status will continue because armed groups of hostile organizations remain in the country.

In addition, besides the armed conflict, the country is now also caught in a diplomatic crisis. According to local media reports, former Ecuadorian Vice President Glas was issued an arrest warrant on suspicion of embezzlement and has already been sentenced for corruption offenses. However, Glas entered the Mexican Embassy in Ecuador in December last year seeking asylum, after which the Mexican government rejected Ecuador's demands to enter the embassy to arrest Glas. But on the evening of April 5, Ecuadorian security forces drove armored vehicles into the Mexican Embassy in Ecuador and arrested Glas, who was inside the embassy.

The arrest angered the Mexican government. Mexico's foreign minister announced on social media that Mexico immediately severed diplomatic relations with Ecuador, because Ecuador blatantly violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, causing harm to Mexican diplomatic personnel in Ecuador, which Mexico considers an infringement on international law and Mexican sovereignty. The next day, the Nicaraguan government also announced the immediate severance of diplomatic relations with Ecuador.

Currently, the incident has drawn attention across Latin American society, with international organizations, multiple governments and social groups condemning the event. The Organization of American States and several countries expressed opposition to acts that violate diplomatic premises, stating that all countries have an obligation to comply with international norms and not to place domestic law above international regulations. Moreover, Mexico has now filed a complaint against Ecuador at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Furthermore, Ecuador's economy relies on exports of oil, bananas, cocoa and coffee as well as tourism, and the diplomatic crisis will reduce trade between countries. Many industry insiders worry that the current diplomatic situation will affect the competitiveness of Ecuadorian agricultural products such as bananas and coffee in international markets, ultimately reducing exports of these agricultural products and affecting Ecuador's economy. In addition, the main sources of tourists for the tourism industry are the United States, Colombia, Peru and Spain; the current situation will reduce tourists' willingness to choose Ecuador as a destination, thereby reducing tourism revenue. Although the country's coffee is not as well known as that of neighboring countries such as Colombia and Panama, in recent years Ecuadorian coffee has gradually emerged in world competitions and has attracted many coffee hunters to visit the country. The current diplomatic crisis and internal armed conflict make traveling there full of danger. Therefore, the embassy advises Chinese citizens and institutions in Ecuador to closely monitor the local situation, travel to high-risk areas with caution, avoid going out alone or at night, and in case of special emergencies, ensure their own safety, promptly call the police and notify the embassy.