CHINA'S RESPONSE TO ECUADOR WAIVER OF VISA INQUIRY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 003654 SIPDIS INL/HSTC - PUELO, EUR/CE, EAP/CM AND WHA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018 TAGS: PREL PTER ASEC CVIS KCRM KFRD CH HK EC CO SUBJECT: CHINA'S RESPONSE TO ECUADOR WAIVER OF VISA INQUIRY REF: STATE 90800 (NOTAL) BEIJING 00003654 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson for reasons 1.4 (B/D). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Chinese Immigration and Public Security officials evinced a cooperative attitude during a September 19 exchange with Embassy Officers regarding USG concerns about Ecuador's recent waiver of tourist visa requirements for all Chinese nationals. The Chinese shared data showing a five-fold increase in Chinese travelers going to Ecuador since the visa waiver program began in June but no corresponding increase in Chinese returning from the South American country, making it obvious Ecuador is becoming a magnet for illegal migration. The Chinese suspect some of the illegal immigrants hope to transit to Colombia to take advantage of a recent Colombian illegal immigration amnesty while others are bound for the United States. China has taken a series of counter-measures, including information campaigns, stricter passport issuance regulations, and increased border inspection procedures. The MFA's Consular Division has been actively engaging Ecuador on this issue, according to our sources, who predicted that Ecuador may be persuaded to reverse its visa waiver program soon. Action request: Post requests additional information about illegal Chinese migration through Ecuador that we can share with the PRC authorities (see para 11). End Summary. A five-fold increase -------------- ¶2. (C) PolOff, with ARSO and DHS/ICE Representative, on September 19 delivered to Ministry of Public Security (MPS) Entry-Exit Administration Bureau Deputy Division Director Peng Ling and MPS Entry-Exit Administration Bureau Immigration Inspection Division Deputy Director Mo Haiying reftel points on USG concerns regarding Ecuador's recent waiver of tourist visa requirements for all Chinese nationals. ¶3. (C) Peng responded that China shares U.S. concerns about Ecuador becoming a transit point for illegal immigration to the Western Hemisphere, including the United States. She pointed out that since Ecuador's June 20 change in visa requirements, Chinese officials have noted a five-fold increase in the number of Chinese nationals traveling to Ecuador, but the number of Chinese nationals returning to China from Ecuador has not increased. Where are they from? -------------- ¶4. (C) According to Peng, most of the travelers to Ecuador originate from two provinces in China: Fujian and Guangdong. The travelers' most likely transit route is from China through either Hong Kong or Southeast Asia, where they often acquire false documentation, then onward to Ecuador and beyond. Why migrate? -------------- ¶5. (C) Peng added that Chinese officials believe that most travelers are migrating for two main reasons. First, Chinese nationals from Guangdong use Ecuador as a transit country en route to Colombia in order to join family and friends. BEIJING 00003654 002 OF 003 (NOTE: There has historically been a well-established Chinese population from Guangdong in Colombia. In August, Colombia announced that all illegal immigrants present in the country before April 1, 2008, would receive amnesty, a policy affecting many Chinese already in the country.) Second, Chinese nationals from Fujian are traveling to Ecuador primarily to eventually enter the United States. What has MPS done? -------------- ¶6. (C) To combat these developments, Peng explained, MPS has implemented counter-measures. For one, an information campaign has begun at local police stations in Guangdong alerting Chinese nationals to the fact that the Colombian amnesty policy only applies to immigrants in the country before April 1, 2008. No more passports -------------- ¶7. (C) More significantly, Peng said, since the end of July, police in Fujian and Guangdong have tightened passport issuance policies and have been refusing passports to Chinese nationals unless the applicants can prove a strong personal or professional tie to their stated travel destination. Few travelers stopped... -------------- ¶8. (C) In addition, Mo said, at all border inspection posts in Guangdong, Zhejiang, Fujian and other traditional sources of illegal immigrants, authorities are being asked to enhance control of travelers leaving the country, including stricter inspection of travel documents, luggage and suspicious behavior. ¶9. (C) As of July, Mo noted, approximately 100 citizens around China had been stopped by border police from leaving the country due to evidence that they were illegal migrants. She added that from June 20 to September 10, 1,434 nationals admitted that their travel destination included Ecuador, but as authorities were unable to prove that the purpose of their travel was illegitimate, they were not stopped from leaving the country. Mo admitted that illegal migrants are often "well-trained," have access to well-established networks and are therefore difficult to apprehend. ... but MFA Is Involved -------------- ¶10. (C) Peng stressed that not only has MPS taken measures to stem the flow of Chinese to Ecuador, but MFA's Consular Division has also been actively engaging Ecuador on this issue. Peng predicted that Ecuador will be persuaded to reverse its waiver of visa requirements in the near future. Peng agreed to stay in touch on the issue, and appeared eager to continue to share information. Encouraging response -------------- ¶11. (C) Action request: Despite their slowness in responding to our request for a meeting, Peng and Mo appeared well-prepared to openly and frankly discuss USG concerns. They seemed grateful for the information we passed on, and came to the meeting with what looked like a large amount of BEIJING 00003654 003.2 OF 003 detailed documentation. This is in stark contrast to previous meetings at MPS during which our Chinese interlocutors, while expressing gratitude for our concern, were either not prepared or not willing to shre information. To respond to this apparent interest from China to cooperate on this issue, Post requests the Department and DHS to provide additional information to pass to China in order to more effectively address this issue. RANDT