The U.S. State Department has publicly designated Zhao Fugang, Director of the Overseas Chinese Service Center in Fiji, for his alleged involvement in significant corruption on behalf of China-based actors.
The Department says this action renders Fugang and his immediate family members generally ineligible for entry into the United States.
It says Fugang allegedly abused his public position by paying bribes to Fijian citizens to advance the interests of China-based government, business and criminal actors.
The Department adds that his alleged actions constituted significant corruption and adversely affected U.S. interests in Fiji.
It says the United States will hold accountable those who abuse their positions for personal gain and continue to fight corruption that fuels drug trafficking, enables transnational criminal organisations and threatens U.S. interests around the world.
We have sent questions to the Chinese Embassy in Fiji and are yet to receive a response.
We are also trying to get responses from Minister for Policing Ioane Naivalurua, Minister for Defence Pio Tikoduadua, Acting Attorney General Siromi Turaga, and the Police.
