THE Chinese Embassy in Windhoek, through its office of the director of political affairs, Wang Xuguang (Tony), responded to a request by Nampa on the Embassy’s stance after another Chinese national appeared in court for alleged rhinoceros horn smuggling.
Wang Hui (40) made another appearance in the Katutura Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, after which he was again ordered to remain in custody at the Windhoek Correctional Facility until his next court appearance on 25 June 2015.
According to a statement sent via email after Nampa requested a conversation with the Chinese ambassador to Namibia, Xin Shunkang, his office decided to respond by mouth of the office of the director of political affairs.
“The Chinese nationals involved in illegal activities in Namibia are very few individual cases. We support the Namibian side to deal with them in strict accordance with the law.” the statement reads.
The statement further reads that the “The Chinese government sets great store by the protection of wildlife, including rhino. On countering wildlife poaching, our attitude is resolute. We adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards it.”
The statement further says the Chinese government enacted a series of laws and regulations; established joint law enforcement mechanisms incorporating multiple agencies and has taken an active role in the international law enforcement cooperation to crack down on poaching activities.
According to them, the Chinese government has been actively conducting exchanges and cooperating with some African countries to provide more personal training and funding for wildlife protection.
While many Namibians blame Chinese nationals in the country for the increased poaching of rhinos and elephants for their horns and tusks respectively, the ambassador said his office hopes that the Namibian people can view their efforts in an objective light.
The police believe Wang Hui to be the ‘kingpin’ in one of Namibia’s biggest rhino horn smuggling cases.
Wang Hui is expected to appear alongside a group of three other Chinese nationals, who were in 2014 caught with 14 rhino horns worth more than N$2,3 million, as well as a leopard skin valued at N$50 000 stashed in their luggage while they were on their way to Hong Kong via Johannesburg, South Africa.