State Department Adds Wrongful-Detention Indicator to China Travel Advisory: Level 2 Unchanged, Americans Said to Face Serious Risk
The U.S. Department of State reissued its travel advisory for mainland China on October 19. The advisory states at the top that there was no change to the advisory level, that the 'wrongful detention' risk indicator was added, and that the advisory summary was updated. Mainland China remains at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, with risk indicators 'D' for wrongful detention and 'O' for other risks.
The advisory cites the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the use of exit bans without a fair and transparent process under the law, and the risk of wrongful detention. It states that the Department of State has determined that Americans are at serious risk of wrongful detention by the Government of China, and that wrongfully detained Americans may be held in prison for years, in poor conditions, and without due process. It adds that expansive national security, counterespionage and data security laws grant Chinese officials broad discretion to treat a wide range of documents, data and materials as state secrets, placing U.S. citizens at risk for conducting even routine business, research, or expression in the public domain.
The advisory states that China has disproportionately targeted U.S. citizens of Chinese heritage or naturalized U.S. citizens of Chinese descent for espionage investigations. It lists groups that may be targeted, including U.S. citizens of Chinese heritage or origin, anyone involved in business disputes, people with current or prior affiliations with U.S. law enforcement, military or intelligence agencies, participants in U.S. government-funded programs, academics and journalists. According to the advisory, exit bans have been used to force people to participate in government investigations, to pressure family members or associates abroad to return to China, and to gain bargaining leverage over foreign governments, and U.S. citizens often learn of an exit ban only when they attempt to depart. The advisory also notes that China does not recognize dual nationality, addresses entry on a U.S. passport, and flags severely limited services in the Tibet Autonomous Region and Tibetan autonomous prefectures.
According to The Epoch Times, a State Department spokesperson said of the change: 'The Department of State has determined that Americans are at serious risk of wrongful detention in China.' The update adds the risk indicator and revises the summary only; the advisory level remains Level 2.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于华盛顿的美国国务院总部 Harry S. Truman Building 外景（2024年春）。经 Wikimedia Commons 发布，公共领域。Photo: Exterior of the U.S. Department of State headquarters, the Harry S. Truman Building in Washington, D.C., spring 2024. Via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
