Singapore and China had announced that they will establish a 30-day mutual visa exemption agreement between both countries, expected to begin in early 2024. This means that the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) citizens or Chinese nationals can enter Singapore without applying for a visa.
(https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/singapore-china-30-day-mutual-visa-free-arrangement-3971566

While recognizing the potential benefits of visa-free travel, there are valid concerns about security risks associated with this policy, as evidenced by past criminal cases involving Chinese nationals in Singapore and other countries.
We oppose the policy, and we appeal to the government to cancel the visa-free entry for Chinese nationals into Singapore.

Espionage incident
Dickson Yeo, a Singaporean man, spied for China by acting as a paid agent of a foreign state. He had attempted to secure employment in the Singapore government sector to further his information-gathering activities but failed. Dickson Yeo later went to the United States to continue his information-gathering efforts as a spy until he was caught. The incident was done by China government, it highlights the potential security threats posed by China official with malicious intentions. Allowing visa-free entry into Singapore for Chinese nationals might facilitate similar activities.

Source:

• https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singaporean-man-detained-by-isd-for-acting-as-a-paid-agent-of-a-foreign-state 

Crime problem
Several incidents involving Chinese nationals engaging in criminal activities in Singapore and other countries raise concerns about public safety, some of the examples including:

• In December 2022, a Chinese national woman attempted to bring meat products into Japan. She was uncooperative with the Narita Airport customs officer when they were performing an inspection on the belongings and caused a disturbance on the spot.
• The recent Billion-dollar money laundering case that surfaced found several Chinese nationals possessing multiple passports from different countries and opening shell companies to conduct their criminal activity. Additionally, a Chinese national caught among them, named Wang Dehai, a wanted criminal in China, is one of the examples of a criminal from China using our country as a safe haven to escape justice. He was wanted by Chinese police in October 2016. This recent crime is deemed highly severe and should be taken into consideration when deciding whether Singapore should allow Chinese nationals to enter Singapore visa-free.
• In 2023, 3 Chinese nationals came to our country specifically to steal donation money from churches and temples. They were arrested and jailed.
• In July 2023, a group of Chinese tourists in Japan assaulted police officers with violence and was caught on camera.
• In October 2023, Han Feizi, a Chinese national woman, was charged in Singapore for violating the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, abusive language against a public service worker or public servant, harassment, assault, and public nuisance.
• In October 2023, a group of foreigners were caught in Malaysia begging in Kuala Lumpur. Among them, one male and one female Chinese national were arrested too. The Chinese national woman was also found to be disguising herself as Muslim, carrying a child (not her child), and begging.

Given the prevalence of such incidents, there are apprehensions about the potential risks associated with facilitating visa-free entry for Chinese nationals into Singapore. The government needs to carefully consider the impact on public safety and national security before implementing such policy.

Examples in Singapore:

• https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/billion-dollar-money-laundering-case-how-man-wanted-china-came-be-safer-singapore-3854936 
• https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/criminal-groups-from-china-spreading-out-to-south-east-asia-including-s-pore-experts 
• https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/men-came-china-steal-churches-temples-singapore-fishing-douyin-videos-3891676 
• https://mothership.sg/2023/10/woman-alleged-abuse-sgh-nurse-allegedly-hostess/ 

Examples in other countries:

• https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E8%AA%87%E5%BC%B5%E7%89%87-%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E5%A4%A7%E5%AA%BD%E5%B8%B6-%E5%A0%86%E8%82%89%E4%B9%BE%E5%85%A5%E5%A2%83%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%A2%AB%E6%94%94-%E7%95%B6%E5%A0%B4-%E8%B5%B7%E4%B9%A9-052443410.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADBvJBkjXOyTlrOlWNytqsUeSNPUyJ09emQaq7iOetWYfd6jgnisJJ6WGvqvIABNfuK_AfmV7pYCMQYNOtAooX5TExYJjzu6Pgmh2su3o36-T9s2uWvDi2oJLHEjg92FMsXivtvCUqdNVdmBmgYdmUGuqx6TXx9PuFX02m25qwIR
• https://www.dimsumdaily.hk/viral-video-of-3-chinese-female-tourists-physically-assaulting-japanese-police-in-tokyo-caught-on-camera/
• https://www.chinapress.com.my/20231006/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E5%A4%A7%E5%A6%88%E6%9D%A5%E9%A9%AC%E8%A1%8C%E4%B9%9E-%E5%8C%85%E5%A4%B4%E5%8C%85%E8%84%B8%E6%89%AE%E7%A9%86%E6%96%AF%E6%9E%97/ 

Illegal immigrants
The Chinese nationals have also been known negatively in international society for abusing the privilege to enter other countries as tourists and becoming illegal immigrants. Instances of illegal staying and entry pose challenges to immigration control and public order.

One example which a Chinese national who had lived and worked in Singapore illegally for 15 years from 2007 to 2022, despite being banned from entering Singapore since 2006. was caught and sentenced to imprisonment and a fine.

Another example in 2023 is that Chinese nationals are reportedly entering the United States illegally and staying as illegal immigrants.

Examples in Singapore:

• https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2023/01/25/jail-for-two-china-women-who-overstayed-in-singapore-for-more-than-a-decade 
• https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/chinese-national-banned-from-entering-singapore-worked-here-illegally-for-15-years 

Examples in other countries:

• https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20230429-1388851 

Virus and health issues
Recently, there have been reports about clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children's hospitals in Beijing, Liaoning, and other places in China. It raises concerns about potential health risks spreading to Singapore with increased travel if visa-free travel is allowed for Chinese nationals.

Source:

• https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2023-DON494 

Considering these factors, we oppose the implementation of the visa-free policy for Chinese nationals and appeal to the government to reconsider its potential implications on national security and public safety.