No increase in Chinese visitors arrested in Singapore since reciprocal visa waiver: MHA – Mothership.SG

Since the reciprocal visa waiver arrangements came into effect in February this year, there has been no increase in the number or percentage of short-term visitors from China arrested in Singapore.

On the other hand, the percentage of travellers being denied entry into Singapore has increased following the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority’s (ICA) new Clearance Concept, which is based on automated processing.

Sun Xueling, Secretary of State for Home Affairs, answered questions from Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Leong Mun Wai during the Parliament session on 9 September 2024.

His questions follow a series of recent burglaries on Holland Road, which appear to be linked to foreign gangs involving Chinese nationals.

Singapore police earlier announced that three Chinese nationals had been arrested, while police abroad are targeting another 14 suspects.

“Even if we include the 14 Chinese nationals I mentioned earlier, the percentage of Chinese visitors arrested in Singapore would be lower than the corresponding percentage last year,” Sun said.

Visa regulation not watertight

Sun stressed that a visa regime is not a watertight guarantee to keep out unwanted persons.

Although individuals are screened before they travel to Singapore and those with worrying pasts are turned away, it cannot completely screen out unwanted visitors or prevent them from committing crimes in Singapore, she said.

Closing borders will destroy the economy

Closing the borders completely would deter foreigners from committing crimes, but would also “destroy Singapore’s economy,” Sun said

She stressed that foreigners bring tourism revenue and employment that Singapore can benefit from.

For example, in 2023, the tourism sector contributed S$27.2 billion in tourism revenue and employed over 71,000 people as of December 2023.

The sector contributed an average of 3 percent to Singapore’s GDP over the past decade, from 2014 to 2023, with the exception of 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tourism also plays a vital role in enhancing Singapore’s status as a “vibrant global city that is a magnet for capital, businesses and talent,” she said.

It also increases the quality and diversity of recreational opportunities for local people and helps create a living environment that Singaporeans can be proud of, she added.

“We cannot achieve these ambitions if we build walls and keep visitors out.”

Stricter screening of travelers

Sun noted that ICA has improved its risk-based, tiered approach to assessing foreign travelers.

ICA’s new Clearance Concept, which includes automated immigration processing, has also led to an increase in the percentage of travellers being denied entry into Singapore.

That’s because checks are now starting at an earlier stage and technology is being used more widely, she explained.

How screening is performed

Sun explained how ICA screens travelers to Singapore.

Before arrival, the ICA uses pre-issued passenger information, flight manifests and SG Arrival Card data to conduct risk assessments through the Integrated Targeting Centre, she said.

Upon arrival, all travelers, including those in automatic lanes, are screened against a watchlist of persons of interest and flagged individuals. Those deemed higher risk are subject to more stringent checks.

Frequent travellers, including those who have committed crimes in Singapore, are flagged by the biometric database if they attempt to enter under a different identity, which records their biometric data from previous visits.

Increased automation will allow more ICA staff to focus on passenger profiling in automated lanes, complementing back-end risk assessments.

People who exhibit suspicious behavior will be further questioned, Sun said.

Visa waiver with China: a ‘carefully considered and balanced decision’

The reciprocal visa waiver with China was a “carefully considered and balanced decision” that took into account manageable security, criminal and immigration risks and recognized significant economic and bilateral benefits, Sun said.

She stressed that it is in Singapore’s interest to maintain this agreement with China.

Revising laws to reflect the changing nature of crimes

Leong responded to Sun’s answer, saying he was not advocating a “closed Singapore” and that he understands the benefits of an open society and economy.

However, he pointed out that as the number of foreigners and visitors increases, additional measures may be needed to ensure Singapore’s safety.

He asked whether the government was considering imposing tougher penalties for cross-border criminal activities.

Sun said transnational crimes include human trafficking, drug trafficking and online scams. While burglary is not typically classified as a transnational crime, she noted that recent burglaries linked to foreign syndicates are cause for concern.

She explained that in recent years the government has revised the Criminal Code (CPS) to tackle various crimes.

Sun stressed that laws should be continuously monitored and revised given the changing nature of crime.

Top photo from ICA/Facebook