Philippines’ strict visa rules disrupt Chinese businesses and local economy

Observers say the government’s crackdown has inadvertently ensnared Chinese traders with long-standing ties to the country, creating hurdles for law-abiding entrepreneurs and affecting sectors vital to the local economy.

Wilson Lee Flores, a political-economic analyst and honorary chairman of the Anvil Business Club in Manila, said that several Chinese-Filipino businessmen are struggling to secure visas for their factory and shop workers from the Philippine Embassy in Beijing.

I mentioned to my friend, the Philippine ambassador in Beijing, that my friend owns a noodle factory and has a technician ready, but the new machine from China can’t be operated without him, the situation is “very bad for both countries”, Flores said.

In May, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs tightened visa policies to address fraudulent applications that have caused illegal entries and overstays. This includes closer scrutiny of applications from high-risk countries and better collaboration with immigration authorities to verify supporting documents.