[International] Anti-China Merchant Banners Appear on Honduran Streets; Authorities Investigate Residency Violations and Unfair Competition
RtiTalk 小編1d ago
Banners opposing Chinese merchants have recently appeared on the streets of the Honduran capital. Immigration officials, after inspecting Chinese businesses and construction sites of Chinese contractors, discovered residency violations. Forty-one Chinese citizens were summoned or placed under review; some businesses funded by Chinese capital are also being investigated for suspected unfair competition.
The South China Morning Post and several Spanish-language media outlets reported that the Honduran National Migration Institute, in cooperation with police and intelligence personnel, inspected 54 Chinese businesses in Comayagüela. During the inspection, 86 Chinese citizens were questioned, and 25 were asked to undergo further document verification.
Comayagüela is a major commercial area and, along with Tegucigalpa, forms the twin cities that constitute the capital of Honduras.
Immigration officials also visited a regional hospital in the southern department of Choluteca, which is being constructed by the Chinese state-owned enterprise SFECO Group. They found that among the 128 Chinese workers on site, 16 had discrepancies in their identity or residency status.
Honduras' current president, Nasry Asfura, has been in office for about nine months. During his election campaign, he proposed restoring diplomatic relations with Taiwan. After taking office, he also ordered a review of the agreements signed between the former president Xiomara Castro and China.
In 2023, during Xiomara Castro's administration, Honduras severed ties with Taiwan and established diplomatic relations with China.
During a week-long holiday in early October, banners reading "Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela reject Chinese merchants" appeared on the capital's main commercial avenues. It is unclear who hung these banners.
Several days later, the municipal government received complaints from local Honduran businesses alleging that their competitors were selling goods at prices below cost. Consequently, the municipality also launched an investigation into 70 businesses funded by Chinese capital.
Fredy Casasola, a municipal official responsible for the investigation, told TSi television, "Approximately 68% to 70% of these types of businesses operate non-compliantly." Businesses that fail to rectify their violations may be ordered to suspend operations or even face permanent closure.
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=238780
How does this article make you feel?
0 people reacted