The United States has accused Chinese government, business and criminal actors of facilitating malign foreign influence in Fiji, singling out controversial China-born businessman Zhao Fugang in a strongly worded statement raising concerns about organised crime and corruption across the Pacific.
The allegations, published by the US Embassy in Suva on Thursday, October 8, come amid longstanding scrutiny of Zhao, a prominent Fiji-based hotelier whom Australian intelligence and law enforcement agencies have reportedly identified as a high-priority organised crime target.
In its statement, the embassy said public reporting had revealed an established pattern of criminal activity across the Pacific involving individuals with connections to China.
“Public reporting shows an established trend of criminals operating across the Pacific with ties to China,” the embassy said.
It cited academic research describing China’s activities as “systemic geocriminality”, referring to alleged connections between Chinese political influence operations and criminal networks.
The embassy specifically identified Zhao, claiming his activities had exposed Fiji to foreign interference.
“Zhao Fugang’s actions have left Fiji vulnerable to malign foreign influence facilitated by Chinese government, business, and criminal actors inside and outside of Fiji,” it said.
The Chinese government has yet to respond to the latest allegations and could not be reached by Kaniva News for comment.
The embassy did not provide specific new evidence against Zhao in its Facebook statement or identify the particular actions it alleged had left Fiji vulnerable.
It also referred to actions being taken by the US State Department but did not specify their nature in the published statement.
Who is Zhao Fugang?
Zhao is a China-born businessman and naturalised Fijian citizen who owns the Yue Lai Hotel in Suva and has maintained prominent connections with Chinese diplomatic representatives and senior Fijian political figures.
He attracted international attention in March 2024 when a joint investigation by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and Australia’s Nine media outlets reported that Australian authorities suspected him of occupying a senior position in a criminal network allegedly involved in drug trafficking, money laundering and human trafficking.
The investigation reported that the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission had designated Zhao a priority organised crime target in 2023.
Investigators also documented his involvement with organisations associated with the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front system, which seeks to promote Beijing’s interests and influence overseas.
However, Zhao has consistently denied allegations of criminal wrongdoing.
His lawyer, Nikheel Nambiar, previously described the allegations as baseless and maintained that his client did not participate in or support criminal activities.
Previous investigations reported that Zhao had not been charged with any criminal offence in Australia or Fiji, and Australian authorities had not publicly released the intelligence underlying their suspicions.
US warns of wider consequences
The US Embassy warned that corruption and organised criminal networks posed threats extending beyond Fiji’s domestic affairs.
It said corruption discouraged foreign investment and international assistance, facilitated organised crime, encouraged illegal migration and undermined public confidence in government institutions.
The embassy linked those concerns directly to Washington’s strategic interests in the Pacific.
“This directly impacts U.S. national security, economic, and foreign policy interests, and those of our partner nations,” it said.
The statement represents a further escalation of public US criticism concerning alleged connections between Chinese influence operations and transnational criminal activity in the Pacific.
However, the embassy’s allegations do not establish that the Chinese government directed Zhao’s alleged criminal activities, and the claims against him remain disputed.
