China says it repatriates Chinese nationals after verification

28/1/2025 6:08

China said on Monday it

is willing to repatriate confirmed Chinese nationals from the

United States, as U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened

tariffs and sanctions on some countries if they do not cooperate

on accepting deportees.



In recent months, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

has sent five charter flights to China with hundreds of Chinese

nationals deemed not to have a legal basis to remain in the U.S.



Nonetheless, U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials

have been frustrated by what they say is Beijing's longstanding

refusal to cooperate on repatriation by declining to issue

travel documents.



The department has warned of escalating consequences for

Chinese officials, including visa sanctions, for refusal to

accept tens of thousands of Chinese nationals in the U.S. under

deportation orders.



"We have conducted practical cooperation with the migration

and law enforcement departments of the U.S. and other countries,

which has been productive," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman

Mao Ning told reporters at a regular briefing in Beijing.



"As far as repatriation is concerned, China's principle is

to receive the repatriates who are confirmed as Chinese

nationals from the Chinese mainland after verification," Mao

said, when asked if China would take back Chinese nationals who

are in the U.S. illegally or without documentation.



Trump in his first day in office last week declared illegal

immigration a national emergency, tasking the U.S. military with

aiding border security, issuing a broad ban on asylum, and

taking steps to restrict citizenship for children born on

American soil.



The Republican president says the moves are necessary after

millions of immigrants entered the U.S. under the Biden

administration, both crossing illegally and through Biden's

legal entry programs.



"We expect all countries to accept the repatriation of

their citizens who are in the United States illegally," White

House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said

when asked about China's remarks.



The number of Chinese citizens encountered crossing the U.S.

southern border without permission surged in recent years, from

negligible to tens of thousands, as China's economy faced

headwinds and U.S. visas were harder to acquire due to COVID-19

restrictions.



Trump had threatened tariffs and sanctions on Colombia to

punish it for earlier refusing to accept military flights

carrying deportees. The White House said on Sunday it would not

impose its threatened penalties because the South American

country had agreed to accept the migrants.



Trump also has said he is thinking about imposing 25% duties

on imports from Canada and Mexico on Feb. 1 to force further

action against illegal immigration and fentanyl flowing into the

U.S.