Today in the China Daily and from an alert from ISOS:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2012-05/15/content_15291548.htm
15 May 2012: 1 of 1 travellers - China: Operation against illegal foreign travellers, expatriates in Beijing to entail visa scrutiny
The Public Security Bureau in the capital Beijing on 15 May launched an operation against foreigners staying in the city illegally. The crackdown will apply to those who have entered the country illegally, have overstayed their visa, are working without permits, or have violated the provisions of their visa; the operation is to continue until the end of August.
Comment and Analysis
The authorities will conduct visa checks throughout the capital, particularly at those locations popular with foreigners such as Sanlitun (Chaoyang district) and around university campuses. Failure to provide proof of identity, possession of a valid residence permit or visa, or to abide by the relevant regulations could result in being fined, detained or repatriated. Violators may also be blacklisted for subsequent visas.
Travel Advice
• Personnel should obtain a proper China visa for all visits. If caught with an incorrect visa, or overstaying a visa, personnel may face immediate deportation or temporary detention.
• Visa regulations will vary depending on the nationality of the traveller and the nature of their visit to the country; travellers should check requirements with their local Chinese embassy or consulate well ahead of their intended visit.
• Business travellers are reminded to carry their passport with them at all times, and should exercise caution to prevent theft; copies of a passport, driver's licence or residential compound residence card will not be accepted.
• Consider carrying a card stating your particulars in Mandarin.
Shimon
May 15, 12, 11:55 pm
How do you enter China illegally? I think the navy will notice if you try swimming from Japan. LOL
jiejie
May 16, 12, 12:10 am
Sounds like another round of the pre-Olympics hassle. For the duration, might be a good idea to carry around your papers if you don't already do so, and make darn sure (if staying in private housing or with friends/family rather than at a hotel or hostel) that you have your zanzhuzheng (Certificate of Temporary Residence) from your friendly neighborhood police station. I still have no intention to carry around passport as a routine; I'd rather deal with Chinese police grumping about my carrying a copy around, rather than deal with US Embassy on why I need to replace a lost/stolen passport.
However, with the imposition of the Social Welfare taxation on foreigners and their employers, I do think that there is more temptation by both to avoid standard Work Permits, and more willingness to try to skate by working on F's for long-term. That may be the primary motivation for this "operation."
mosburger
May 16, 12, 1:38 am
However, with the imposition of the Social Welfare taxation on foreigners and their employers, I do think that there is more temptation by both to avoid standard Work Permits, and more willingness to try to skate by working on F's for long-term. That may be the primary motivation for this "operation."
I personally think, and quite a few share this view, that there is some sort of prolonged campaign going on to reduce the number of expats working especially at foreign owned companies and in managerial positions in China.
The follow up goal might be to replace them with Chinese managers also to speed up technology transfers and possibilities to take over those companies in one form or other in the future.
mnredfox
May 16, 12, 1:50 am
If I wanted to come back to China, I wouldn't play around with overstaying a visa or being employed without proper paperwork.
I'm guessing most of these folks aren't westerners...
moondog
May 16, 12, 4:45 am
I personally think, and quite a few share this view, that there is some sort of prolonged campaign going on to reduce the number of expats working especially at foreign owned companies and in managerial positions in China.
The follow up goal might be to replace them with Chinese managers also to speed up technology transfers and possibilities to take over those companies in one form or other in the future.
I don't buy this logic (the new visa class --between F and Z-- that is being proposed is a good counterargument). In my view, Chinese are already given preference v. expats for most managerial roles; simply put, people who are local are more valuable than us. Even Chinese people who spend too much time abroad are passed over in favor of their peers who really "get China".
Also, many people who work on F visas are actually investors bringing money into the economy. The government likes this.
The way I see it, the current campaign is no different than 2008: route out restaurant owners, students who have become teachers, and drug dealers.
Simply put, I'm not the least bit worried about this crack down. However, I am worried about the repercussions of that British guy who (effectively) raped a Chinese girl in SLT on camera. That kind of stuff turns the tide against foreigners in short order... very, very bad.
anacapamalibu
May 16, 12, 8:28 am
Simply put, I'm not the least bit worried about this crack down. However, I am worried about the repercussions of that British guy who (effectively) raped a Chinese girl in SLT on camera. That kind of stuff turns the tide against foreigners in short order... very, very bad.
If they decide to prosecute the two citizens that detained the perp, that will really cause the pot to boil.:confused:
Don't put your smelly feet on the train seats. (http://v.ifeng.com/vblog/dv/201205/b8a9b6e2-a40a-4b57-8492-dcf0d85c5453.shtml)
Keep your mouth shut on the bus (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7yrEw_GYCo&list=UUtLlbTqeBy62KfgWfp2ePMg&index=8&feature=plcp)
jiejie
May 16, 12, 4:49 pm
However, I am worried about the repercussions of that British guy who (effectively) raped a Chinese girl in SLT on camera. That kind of stuff turns the tide against foreigners in short order... very, very bad.
SLT? I thought this happened in Xuanwumen--if you look at the video you can see the SOGO department store in the background. It's definitely a bad development, wherever it happened.
On the larger issue, I tend to agree with mosburger that over the past several years, there has been a slow but inexorable pressure on companies to reduce or avoid employment of foreigners, particularly those outside the most senior management. The Senior foreign business leaders I've talked to, seem to feel the same way.
anacapamalibu
May 16, 12, 7:45 pm
there is some sort of prolonged campaign going on to reduce the number of expats working especially at foreign owned companies and in managerial positions in China.
, I tend to agree with mosburger that over the past several years, there has been a slow but inexorable pressure on companies to reduce or avoid employment of foreigners, .
Is this some kind of revelation? More like business as usual.
jiejie
May 16, 12, 8:50 pm
Is this some kind of revelation? More like business as usual.
Well, I've had over 10 years of data points through continuous residence, and there is definitely a difference in attitude from the early/mid 2000's vs post-2009/2010. No, I would not say business as usual at all.
anacapamalibu
May 16, 12, 9:28 pm
Well, I've had over 10 years of data points through continuous residence, and there is definitely a difference in attitude from the early/mid 2000's vs post-2009/2010. No, I would not say business as usual at all.
Similar to the figures for property value, but inverted.
Business as usual.
Depends on how you define the meaning of the words.
Similar to "is"" and as of late "the".
jiejie
May 16, 12, 10:01 pm
Similar to the figures for property value, but inverted.
Business as usual.
Depends on how you define the meaning of the words.
Similar to "is"" and as of late "the".
You keep to your opinion, and I'll stick with mine. Most of this doesn't apply to most of the FT'ers reading this forum anyway.
Chapel Hill Guy
May 17, 12, 8:21 am
Showed up on MSNBC today:
Is China's crackdown on foreigners about crime or illegal immigration? (http://behindthewall.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/16/11734798-is-chinas-crackdown-on-foreigners-about-crime-or-illegal-immigration?lite)
anacapamalibu
May 17, 12, 8:43 am
Most of this doesn't apply to most of the FT'ers reading this forum anyway.
True, doesn't have any affect on travelers. Just a sidebar regarding the
OP's news story.
moondog
May 17, 12, 9:17 pm
True, doesn't have any affect on travelers. Just a sidebar regarding the OP's news story.
Well, it applies to ME (F visa), but I'm not the least bit scared. What's more, I would never fathom the idea of bringing my passport to SLT. I had the pleasure of experiencing a "raid" during Expo... the cops asked me for my "papers", and I told them that they were at home. Subsequently, the proceeded to hound the missionaries at the next table. Bottom line: the people you deal with really don't care.
anacapamalibu
May 17, 12, 9:40 pm
Employment opportunity for foreigners.
They need to hire some foreign experts to provide safety lessons
for purchasers of million dollar super cars.
g46r
May 18, 12, 3:53 am
How do you enter China illegally? I think the navy will notice if you try swimming from Japan. LOL
You sneak over the DMZ into North Korea, and then pay a smuggler to smuggle you across the Tuman river into China. Easy!
tauphi
May 18, 12, 5:41 am
You sneak over the DMZ into North Korea, and then pay a smuggler to smuggle you across the Tuman river into China. Easy!
Or you walk over the border from Afghanistan.
anacapamalibu
May 18, 12, 7:46 am
Enter on a TWOV and don't depart.
Technically you wouldn't have entered illegally,
unless determined you had no intent to depart.
Shimon
May 19, 12, 4:13 am
Or you walk over the border from Afghanistan.
For some reason I don't think the Chinese government is after those people. Nor do those people stay illegal for long enough that the Chinese government comes after them and they probably don't continue walking to Beijing. I'm pretty sure this has more to do with the drug trade than refugees.
moondog
May 19, 12, 5:03 am
For some reason I don't think the Chinese government is after those people. Nor do those people stay illegal for long enough that the Chinese government comes after them and they probably don't continue walking to Beijing. I'm pretty sure this has more to do with the drug trade than refugees.
Disagree. Without getting overly political here, I will simply state that persons working in the industry you've mentioned enjoy significant protective cover from above.
BB doesn't have the same love for students who overstay their visas, and foreigners who operate restaurants on F/L visas.
jiejie
May 19, 12, 7:02 am
Agree with moondog. Organized drug trade goes way up the food chain in protection...that's not the mission here.
I'm also of the opinion that even without some famous video'd recent incidents, the unusually politically-charged atmosphere this year and the top brass changeover means the the Chinese government needs to be seen as tough, in control, kicking @ss and taking names.
With foreigners being a favorite target. Especially those that haven't bothered to dot their i's and cross their t's. Whipping up sentiment against a bunch of scapegoats whose combined misdeeds don't amount to squat, is a diversionary tactic to take the heat off the real matter at hand--the misdeeds and corruption in the Chinese governmental/Party structure and all the unsolved social problems of the country. We've seen this tactic before. The problem is that it can take on a life of its own with mob mentality. Anecdotally (I have no hard proof statistics), it seems that unprovoked incidents against foreigners (fights, etc) are increasing with young Chinese headed out loaded for bear.
anacapamalibu
May 19, 12, 7:45 am
The problem is that it can take on a life of its own with mob mentality. Anecdotally (I have no hard proof statistics), it seems that unprovoked incidents against foreigners (fights, etc) are increasing with young Chinese headed out loaded for bear.
In determining fight or flight...one should consider its never going to be one on one.
If not an MMA champ, best to flee. Once you go down, your head is going to be a soccer ball.
moondog
May 19, 12, 6:29 pm
In determining fight or flight...one should consider its never going to be one on one.
If not an MMA champ, best to flee. Once you go down, your head is going to be a soccer ball.
My young friend who I recently introduced to you via email learned this lesson the hard way (and boycotted SLT for 3 months in protest). While I don't doubt that he could have taken down 1 guy, the other two ensured his downfall. BTW, his assailants were not Chinese, and he didn't do anything wrong (apart from believing that he was a bad ...).
My young friend who I recently introduced to you via email learned this lesson the hard way (and boycotted SLT for 3 months in protest). While I don't doubt that he could have taken down 1 guy, the other two ensured his downfall. BTW, his assailants were not Chinese, and he didn't do anything wrong (apart from believing that he was a bad ...).