SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands — Chinese and Russian tourists are being excluded from a visa waiver program being instituted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the Western Pacific.

The program covering the U.S. territory of Guam and the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is to go into effect Nov. 28.
The Homeland Security regulation covering the program said China and Russia are being excluded “due to political, security, and law enforcement concerns.”
Under the program, citizens of Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom can enter Guam and the Northern Marianas for 45 days visa-free.
Citizens of other countries must obtain a visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate.