Envoy vow to help curb Chinese ‘illegal activities’ here

People’s Republic of China Deputy Consul General to Los Angeles Cai Zixian is currently on island to meet with local officials and enforcement authorities in efforts to curb crimes reportedly being committed by some Chinese nationals in the CNMI.

Cai met with the attorney general as well as with police, customs, labor, and immigration officials yesterday morning.

The diplomatic official met with Gov. Juan N. Babauta over lunch yesterday.

Governor press secretary Pete Callaghan said that Cai’s visit was on the diplomat’s initiative.

“He is very pleased with how Chinese nationals are being treated in the CNMI,” said Callaghan.

He said yesterday’s talks focused on “organized and disorganized” criminal activities being committed by Chinese nationals in the CNMI, including drugs, gambling, and prostitution.

Cai, according to Callaghan, assured CNMI authorities that the Chinese government would be working with the Commonwealth in addressing those concerns.

In particular, Cai said that PROC’s provincial police force would help identify people with illegal activities as well as send Chinese undercover agents to work with the CNMI in arresting criminals.

“Being a non-Chinese speaking place, we can only go so far [in investigating Chinese activities]. So that [undercover agents] is good news,” said Callaghan.

He said Cai also expressed willingness to help the CNMI tap China’s Central Custom’s Agency in controlling the entry of counterfeit products to the islands.

“We’re looking at reducing the amount of counterfeit products and banned medicines. We confiscate them here upon their arrival at the airport. Now if we can identify them before they board the plane, it would be less embarrassing for people when they arrive here,” said Callaghan.

Among others, Cai also promised to help with the CNMI’s pending application for Approved Destination Status.

In another development, Callaghan said Babauta is set to fly to Beijing next month to sign a memorandum of understanding that would “allow the Chinese government to have a say as to who are the Chinese citizens who can come to work in the CNMI.”

He said the purpose of the MOU is to eliminate unscrupulous recruiters. “China wants to put these unscrupulous recruiters out of business. We want to help them,” he said.

He said the MOU would possibly lead to the creation of an office in the CNMI that would ensure the legal entry of Chinese nationals into the Commonwealth.

In March 2003, Chinese Consul-General to Los Angeles Jianhua Zhong first paid an official visit to the Office of the Governor.

The talks focused on various issues including tourism, business opportunities, and labor issues affecting the Chinese nonresident workers in the CNMI.