U.S. urges caution for Americans traveling to China

The State Department has issued an advisory for traveling to China.

TENSIONS between the U.S. and China just got ramped up to a new level as the U.S. State Department issues a travel advisory urging Americans to "exercise increased caution" when traveling to the People's Republic of China.

The new travel advisory is a level-two advisory, which urges increased caution. A level-one advisory suggests travelers "exercise normal precautions," while a level-three advisory urges Americans to "reconsider travel." A level-four advisory recommends that Americans avoid traveling to a particular country.

The State Department's elevated travel advisory is out of concern that China may arbitrarily enforce local laws and detain U.S. citizens without cause. The advisory also warns that Chinese Americans, are especially vulnerable to "additional scrutiny and harassment." China does not recognize dual nationality. "China may prevent the U.S. Embassy from providing consular services"

The State Department advisory says that Chinese authorities have asserted broad authority to prohibit U.S. citizens from leaving China by using ‘exit bans,’ sometimes keeping U.S. citizens in China for years. China uses exit bans coercively:

• to compel U.S. citizens to participate in Chinese government investigations,
• to lure individuals back to China from abroad, and
• to aid Chinese authorities in resolving civil disputes in favor of Chinese parties."

In early December, 2018, at the behest of the United States, Canada arrested a High-ranking business executive Sabrina Meng Wanzhou, CFO of Huawei Technologies. She is out on bail and extradition to the U.S. for allegedlly violating the U.S- imposed Iran sanctions.

Ten days later, in apparent retaliation, China detained two Canadians for security reasons. Although the advisory never mentions Meng, if she is turned over to American authorities, China might want to arrest U.S. citizens as bargaining chips.

"Chinese authorities have asserted broad authority to prohibit US citizens from leaving China by using 'exit bans,' sometimes keeping US citizens in China for years," the State Department said in its advisory.

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