‘NMI-China MOU not a dead issue’

The CNMI government continues to pursue its application for approved destination status from the Chinese government, amid the ongoing diplomatic rift between the United States and China.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta said in an interview yesterday that there is no current development as to when the CNMI would get the approved destination status from China.

“But we’ll keep pursuing that. It’s still on the table and I’m hopeful that we’ll get it sometime in the near future,” Babauta said.

He recalled that the scheduled signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Commonwealth and China on April 16 this year was held off after the U.S. government implemented a policy requiring foreigners—including Chinese visitors—to be photographed and fingerprinted upon entry to the United States.

The policy has offended China and resulted in political tension between the two countries. The rift, compounded by minor details in the agreement, caused delay in the decision of the Chinese government on the issuance of the approved destination status to the CNMI.

“We understand that their [U.S. and China] issue is bigger than ours because it concerns a broader diplomatic policy. Unfortunately, we fell victim to it,” Babauta said.

On June 30, People’s Republic of China Premier Wen Jiabao assured Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase of his commitment to grant Fiji approved destination status.

Press secretary Peter Callaghan said the Commonwealth would get China’s approval “once the superpowers take a deep breath and calm down a little.”

Callaghan noted that the United States and China are currently involved in a “diplomatic tit for tat,” as evident in China’s decision to cut the office hours of Chinese embassies issuing visas to U.S. citizens. The shortened office hours, he added, apply only to tourists who are U.S. citizens.

“And we’re caught in the middle of that,” Callaghan said.

But the press secretary maintained that the CNMI has a good chance of getting the approved destination status, given the islands’ appeal to Chinese tourists and proximity to China.

Currently, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, are among the 34 countries awarded approved destination status for the Chinese market.

The ADS is a major incentive that guides Chinese tourists when making travel choices. Chinese tourists are able to travel to ADS countries more easily as part of pre-organized tour groups.

According to the World Tourism Organization, 12 million Chinese people traveled overseas in 2001. If the current trend continues, China will become the fourth largest source for outbound travelers with 100 million tourists.