US sanctions Chinese businessman over Fiji corruption and organised crime
The US sanctioned Chinese-Fijian businessman Zhao Fugang for paying bribes in Fiji. The US acted on Australian intelligence.
The US State Department designated Zhao on Thursday, making him and his immediate family generally unable to enter the United States. Australian law enforcement agencies provided critical intelligence for this important decision.
Zhao is accused of paying bribes to Fijian officials to help Chinese government and organised crime interests. Australian officials consider him a top criminal threat to regional security.
- Thursday
- Designation date
- Fiji and South Pacific region
- Alleged crime area
Why it mattersThis shows how China uses corruption and organised crime to build influence in the Pacific region. This matters to Australia's security and stability.
AustraliaAustralia has spent hundreds of millions dollars countering Chinese influence in the South Pacific, and this case shows how organised crime networks serve Beijing's strategic interests in Australia's region.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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