The Associated Press reports that China is gathering information on foreigners who might try to use the 2008 Olympics as an opportunity to protest a variety of things.
China’s intelligence services are gathering information on foreigners who might protest and spoil the nation’s moment in the spotlight during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Spy agencies and research organizations compiling lists of potentially troublesome groups are looking beyond the usual suspects, human rights groups, at evangelical Christians demanding religious freedom, Darfur advocates wanting Beijing to use its oil-buying leverage with Sudan to end the strife there, and environmental campaigners angry about global warming, security experts and a consultant familiar with the effort said. (Source: China: Identifying Olympic Troublemakers)
No mention of terrorism or public safety, issues that host countries often pay the most mind.
Also this week, it has emerged on several China blogs that the government is toughening up its visa requirements between now and the Olympics. The new rules don’t seem to be aimed at tourists, but more specifically at foreign English teachers, expats and other people who regularly travel to China on business.
The Today in China blog writes:
I received the following notification from the company for which I’m working.
In the meeting held by the Exit & Entry Administration Ministry of Beijing on July 12, 2007 afternoon, expats’ visa application process were revised as following:
From July 16,2007 till the end of the Olympic games in 2008, in order to ensure the security of Beijing, during the 2008 Olympic Games, the Ministry of Public Security will carry on strictly foreign management in China.
1. If applicants enter China with L, F visa, the visa cannot be transformed to other visa types. (Except for the applicant’s job title is above vice president, legal representative of the company, director, or foreign representative office’s leader).
2. The urgent application (express visa service) cannot be accepted by the government for the time being.
3. When foreigners with L, F visa need to extend their staying in Beijing, the applicants need to do the visa extension personally, and need to present the company’s business license as supporting.
4. The applicants applying for the residence permit for the first entry will need to the application personally; also need to present the company’s business license as supporting.
5. The applicants who apply for the residence permit extension need to provide their employment permits, or the representative permits and company’s business license as supporting.
The original post is Visa application & extension process revision.
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