Calvo meets with FBI about China visa waiver

by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - Aside from attending the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida last week, Governor Eddie Calvo made his way to our nation's capital meeting with the FBI, hoping to bring some progress to the much desired China visa waiver. Hoping to put the pressure on federal agencies relative to pushing the program forward, the island's chief executive made a stop to Washington, DC.

And while he's met with the Department of Homeland Security and the Defense Department on occasion on this issue, for the first time, he met with representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "That is the one agency that is tasked with certain responsibilities in security," Calvo explained, "so this was that first head-to-head meeting with representatives of this agency, and it's important to hear what their issues and with that try to find ways to mitigate those issues. But I believe there is some progress we just have to continue to press."

And in meeting with the FBI, they made it known that it comes down to counterintelligence and concerns over security issues. Calvo says he made it known there has to be a cost-benefit analysis considering with countries such as China, there are tens of millions of people with disposable income. "Every great nation has their fair share of spies but at the same time there's also the need to bring closer dialogue and cooperation between these great nations," he added.

Calvo believes with millions of people willing to spend money especially in an American territory such as Guam, it will provide a balance of trade in the short term. "And I also believe you have millions of folks that come into a Western style democracy that also helps in the long term interest of the United States and will bring democratic values to places such as China," he added.

Meanwhile, it was in January this year when Guam was granted parole authority for Russian visitors.  According to the Guam Visitor Bureau's calendar year to date daily arrivals comparison, in 2011 Guam had 372 Russian visitor arrivals whereas as of last month, had 2,327 arrivals equating to a 525.5% increase presumably as a result of the parole authority.

So when could Guam see that happen with China? The governor says when exactly parole authority for China could be granted remains the million-dollar question. He says while there's been a lot of positive forward progress including this meeting with the FBI, being that it's a presidential election year, which needs to be taken into serious consideration.