The Vanuatu government has taken decisive measures against three Chinese nationals—Huang Bo, Liu Hong, and Tang Ying—by canceling their passports due to fraudulent activities during their acquisition. The Department of Immigration and Passport Services (DoIPS) determined that these individuals had secured their passports through false representations, violating the Passport Act No. 20 of 2009.
Liu Hong and Tang Ying have been on INTERPOL’s radar since September 2022 for their involvement in pyramid selling schemes. They were granted Vanuatu passports in June 2022, while Huang Bo received his in April 2022. Investigative findings indicated that Bo provided misleading information during his citizenship application process, as he was already facing criminal charges.
In light of these cancellations, Vanuatu’s government is launching an investigation to scrutinize the agents responsible for facilitating these citizenship applications. Authorities have made it clear that agents who aid criminals in obtaining Vanuatu citizenship will have their licenses revoked, reinforcing the importance of due diligence in the application process.
This recent action underscores Vanuatu’s commitment to upholding the integrity of its immigration system, a stance supported by previous decisions to revoke passports and citizenship for individuals wanted by other countries for illicit activities—such as Lalit Modi, an Indian businessman implicated in corruption.
By taking these robust measures, Vanuatu aims to signal its resolve to not harbor criminals and to maintain stringent standards in its citizenship and passport issuance processes. This dedication is vital for enhancing national security and promoting international collaboration in combatting corruption and financial crimes.
Vanuatu’s proactive approach not only strengthens its immigration policies but also fosters dialogue about improving global cooperation, ensuring that routes to citizenship are accessible only to those who respect the law and contribute positively to the community. These efforts reflect a hopeful step towards a more secure and transparent immigration framework, fostering trust and safety in global citizenship.
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