A statement from the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday revealed that approximately half of the Chinese citizens who entered Ecuador in recent months have not exited through “regular routes” or within the 90-day period they were allowed to stay.
The ministry elaborated that these individuals either remain in Ecuador under “irregular migration situations” or have departed through “irregular routes to other destinations in the Hemisphere.”
Ecuador is often seen as the starting point for a lengthy land journey that Chinese migrants undertake to reach the United States, a route colloquially referred to as “zou xian” or the “walking route.”
CNN has previously reported on the cottage industry in Quito that caters to these border-bound travelers. Services range from airport pickups to arranging accommodations in Chinese-run hostels and organizing the northward journey, often for a significant fee.
In 2023, Ecuador recorded 48,381 entries by Chinese nationals, but only about 24,240 exits, leaving a discrepancy of 24,141— the highest of any nationality, according to data from the national statistics institute. This marked a significant increase compared to 2022, when approximately 13,000 Chinese nationals entered the country.
Ecuador has reiterated its commitment to the security of visitors to prevent human trafficking and to ensure “adequate national immigration control.”
In response to Ecuador’s decision to suspend visa waivers, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian commented, “Since the China-Ecuador Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement came into effect in August 2016, it has played a positive role in bilateral personnel exchanges and practical cooperation in various fields.”
Lin also emphasized that China “firmly opposes any form of smuggling activities” and noted that Chinese law enforcement agencies have been actively cracking down on illegal activities that impede border management.
These developments highlight the complexities and challenges associated with irregular migration and the efforts of both Ecuador and China to address these issues.