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Transcript/ScriptCHINA VISA BACKDOOR - Stone
HEADLINE: U.S. Pacific Islands Backdoor for Chinese Visitors Gets Scrutiny
TEASER: Islands governor calls on Washington to step up
PUBLISHED: 2/1/2024 at 7 p.m.
BYLINE: Jessica Stone
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO EDITOR:
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Martha Townes, Kevin Enochs, sb
SCRIPT EDITORS: KEnochs
VIDEO SOURCES: DVIDS, AFP, AP, REUTERS, Courtesy video
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:54
APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TV
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a U.S. territory in the Pacific, is the only place in the United States where Chinese nationals can enter without a visa for up to 14 days. Now some in Congress want to shut that program down. VOA’s Jessica Stone reports.]]
((NARRATOR))
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or CNMI, is a collection of islands in the Pacific Ocean, a U.S. territory that is far removed from Washington, DC.
((Courtesy: U.S. Customs and Border Protection))
Since 2019, the CNMI has offered Chinese nationals 14-day
((end courtesy))
visa-free entry to help encourage tourism.
CNMI Governor Arnold Palacios (pron: Puh-LAH-shus) tells VOA the program made China a lucrative source of visitors.
((Arnold Palacios, CNMI Governor))
“Pre-pandemic it was close to 45 to 48% of tourists that come to the Commonwealth are from mainland China – 185,000 people.”
((NARRATOR))
But Republican Representative Neal Dunn says the program opened a backdoor to Chinese citizens who are working on the islands illegally, selling drugs,
((courtesy: US Defense Department))
or perhaps gathering intelligence on U.S. strategic military installations in the region.
((end courtesy))
((Neal Dunn, Republican))
“It was an honest thing to try, but it becomes a loophole that the Chinese take advantage of.”
((NARRATOR)) In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security last year, Dunn and 31 other Republicans in Congress called for closing that loophole, demanding that Chinese nationals obtain a tourism visa to visit the islands. DHS did not respond to an email from VOA seeking a response to the letter.
((Courtesy: U.S. Department of Defense))
In addition to the visa issue, Palacios says he is also dealing with illegal entry into the region. In September, more than a dozen Chinese nationals were prosecuted for illegally trying to enter Guam by chartering a boat from the CNMI island of Saipan.
((end courtesy))
((Arnold Palacios, CNMI Governor))
“That’s where Anderson Air Force base is, and so yeah, there’s reason to be concerned, obviously.”
((NARRATOR))
In January, Palacios came to Washington, calling on the Homeland Security Department to tighten the vetting process for Chinese visitors.
((Courtesy: U.S. Customs and Border Protection))
The department has proposed additional electronic screening, but still allows them to enter CNMI for two weeks without a visa. The changes would begin later this year.
((end courtesy))
Congressman Dunn says the proposal doesn’t go far enough.
((Neal Dunn, Republican))
“You can’t do that. You can’t allow anyone into an American territory without a visa preferentially just because you want tourism business.”
((Courtesy: Office of Governor Arnold I. Palacios))
((NARRATOR))
Palacios took office promising to reduce dependence on Chinese investment. He’s trying to cultivate tourism from U.S. allies like Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
((end courtesy))
He says the territory lost as much as one billion dollars when Chinese lockdowns prevented travelers from coming to Saipan.
((Arnold Palacios, CNMI Governor))
“We've had to make drastic sacrifices in government operations and public services.
((Courtesy: U.S. Department of Defense))
((NARRATOR))
Palacios says he is asking Washington lawmakers to increase air routes to the territory and to stop illegal entry. He wants money to employ more locals to protect the homeland, by sea and air.
((Jessica Stone; VOA News, Washington))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Washington
Embargo DateFebruary 1, 2024 19:51 EST
Byline
Jessica Stone; VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
