北京清理非法居留的外国人

Local authorities in Beijing have officially launched a 100-day campaign – running from May 15 until the end of August – targeting foreigners who illegally enter, reside, or work in China. The 100-day campaign is being promoted as an attempt to improve safety in the capital.

Authorities have denied any link to last week's incident of a British man assaulting a Chinese woman on street.

Xiang Dang is professor of Foreign Police Affairs at Chinese People's Public Security University calls it a necessary move.

"Since China adopted the reform and opening-up policy, and with rapid development of its economy and society, the number of foreigners in China has continued to grow at a sustained rate. At the same time, cases involving foreigners – include illegally residing or working in China, or even instances of transnational crime – are also on the rise."

Official data shows that there are now almost 200,000 foreigners in Beijing, including 120,000 legal residents. Police records also indicate that foreigners without an income, a home, and a job are more likely to commit crimes.

According to Chinese law, it is illegal for foreigners to enter China without a valid visa issued by Chinese authorities, to enter outside of official ports of entry, or to enter without a valid passport. It is also illegal for foreigners to live in China on expired visas or residence permits, or to undertake paid employment without a proper work visa.

Professor Xiang says developed countries, such as America or Japan, frequently take a heavy-handed approach to the management of illegal aliens in their own territory. By comparison, he believes China's immigration policies are quite lax.

"In terms of the management of foreigners, we are behind western countries like America, and our neighbors like Japan and Republic of Korea. This is largely due to the fact that immigration legislation and administration in China is outdated. We also have a lack of detention facilities. In western nations, illegal entry or residence are considered criminal offences. But in China, they are taken as administrative infractions, or a breach of public order."

At present, Chinese laws regulating the entry and exit of Chinese and foreign nationals operate separately. The laws, implemented in 1985, are largely considered outdated. But the Ministry of Public Security submitted a new draft law to the National People's Congress Standing Committee, last year, on the management of the exit and entry of personnel. If the proposal is accepted, the two separate laws will be amalgamated.

Professor Xiang has personally taken part in drafting the proposed amendment.

"Criminal cases involving foreigners have been given priority treatment and must be tried in intermediate courts, or above. But the draft proposes a transfer of power to lower levels, and will enable regional courts to try such cases, speeding up their resolution."

Given the size, and spread, of Beijing's foreign population, Xiang Dang says implementing the crack-down is going to be a hard job, and will require increased coordination across all police departments.

"Besides routine inspections, local police will focus on areas where large numbers of illegal aliens are believed to reside, such as Sanlitun and Wangjing. Police will also pay close attention to the areas of employment and leisure activities popular with illegal aliens, along with on-the-spot street checks that will require foreigners to present valid identification."

Foreigners found to be violating relevant laws may face penalties including fines, detention, or even deportation.

But despite the intense crack-down, experts argue that the campaign does not contradict China's status as an open and inclusive country. China still welcomes people from overseas to invest, study, and work in the country, as long as they have the appropriate visas and permits.

For CRI, I'm Wang Wei.