China refutes Zubiri, says reports of PH blacklisted for tourism is ‘misinformation’

October 12, 2022 Philippines Crime & Legal

MANILA, Philippines – China on Tuesday night, October 11, denied news that it included the Philippines on a blacklist for Chinese tourists due to online gambling operations in the Southeast Asian country, labelling these reports as “misinformation.”

“China has not placed the Philippines on its blacklist for tourism,” the Chinese embassy said in a statement to media Tuesday night. “The report of ‘tourist blacklist’ is misinformation.”

The statement comes a day after Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said during a hearing that China had placed the Philippines on a “blacklist for tourist sites.” Zubiri said Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian had shared the information with him during a courtesy call on Monday, October 10.

Zubiri, referring to his conversation with Huang, said China had expressed concern over the safety of Chinese nationals after Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) were found to be linked to crimes like sex trafficking, corruption, money laundering, and the forgery of documents, among others.

Asked to respond to China’s latest remark denying his statement, Zubiri said it must have been “lost in translation.”

“Maybe it was lost in translation and what the good ambassador meant was we could possibly be blacklisted,” he told reporters.

Despite this, Zubiri said that it was Huang who used the word “blacklist,” “So truly there is a strong possibility that we are either already in the list or could be added on that list if POGOs continue to proliferate in our country.”

He added: “We respect the statement he made today as one of careful diplomacy as I’m sure he does not want raise any diplomatic alarm bells when it comes to this matter.”

Putting aside the embassy’s latest statement, the Senate President said China’s position remained clear:

1. POGOs are totally illegal in China, and those promoting it will be arrested.
2. Their government is asking us to stop hosting this activity,
3. and if could affect tourism potentials if this activities continue.”

“That was the message, don’t shoot the messenger,” Zubiri said.

First pressed to confirm Zubiri’s statement, China only said that tourism was an “important component” of ties between the two counties. The embassy likewise said it was in” close communication” with the Philippine law enforcement agencies and had “stepped up cooperation” on a crackdown against POGO-related criminal activities against Chinese in the Philippines.

The Chinese government had long expressed its opposition to POGOs – which had flourished under the previous administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte – citing it as a “threat” to social order. In 2019, Beijing had even asked the Philippine government to ban all online gambling, though Duterte had resisted the request.

Unlike Duterte, the Marcos administration has so far expressed willingness to ban POGOs, with Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno citing the need to halt its operations due to its “social cost” and “reputational risk.”

Beijing first announced it had such a blacklist for overseas gambling destinations in August 2020, and later added additional spots in January 2021. The said list has not been made public.

Aside from the Philippines, other gambling hotspots in Southeast Asia include Malaysia and Myanmar. – Rappler.com