Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIJING3654
2008-09-22 09:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
CHINA'S RESPONSE TO ECUADOR WAIVER OF VISA INQUIRY
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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
-------
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
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