China seeks strong partnership with CNMI

Two diplomats of the People’s Republic of China yesterday met with Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio seeking stronger cooperation against the backdrop of growing problems stemming from difficulties in deporting Chinese illegals in the Northern Marianas.

Consul Hanchang Quin, Beijing’s consul to Los Angeles, and his staff, Zhongmin Zhang, paid a courtesy call to the governor and discussed briefly PROC’s desire to improve relations.

According to Tenorio, the visiting officials told him that China wants to work closely with CNMI’s labor and immigration department to address mutual concerns.

In December, Labor and Immigration Secretary Mark D. Zachares barred the entry of citizens from PROC because of refusal of China to cooperate in accepting its nationals who have been deported from the commonwealth.

This has caused unnecessary inconvenience to Northern Marianas and financial burden in sheltering Chinese illegal who had been refused entry to mainland China.

“The CNMI hereby discontinues issuance of entry permits to all nationals, citizens, subjects and residents of the People’s Republic of China,” Zachares said in a memorandum because Beijing continues to deny as well as delay accepting Chinese citizens who have been sent back by the commonwealth.

The new policy applies to tourists, businessmen, students and workers as well as to their immediate relatives.

However, Chinese from the mainland whose present status are legal in the Northern Marianas as well as those with valid Green Card and valid passport are not covered by the memorandum.

It also exempts replacement workers or new hirees for the Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association, which employs bulk of the Chinese workers in the islands.

The indefinite ban is the first and strongest step taken by the administration to curb entry of PROC nationals onto the islands whose growing presence has worried local and federal officials.

Majority of illegal aliens deported by the labor and immigration department are Chinese nationals, who either lack necessary work permits or skills to qualify for employment.

They also account for more than 50 percent of close to 1,400 overstaying foreign citizens in the Northern Marianas who have signed up for the limited immunity since the program was implemented in December.

But droves of Chinese continue to flock to CNMI despite such policy by using other ports of entry in the hope of finding better employment in the commonwealth, a favorite job destination among impoverished Asians.