(Trends Wide) — Americans should reconsider travel to China due to the risk of arbitrary detention, the US State Department warned in an updated travel advisory issued Friday.
Although the previous advisory also classified mainland China as a “Tier 3: Reconsider travel” destination, this was due to the risk of “arbitrary application of local laws.” The risk of arbitrary detention was cited as a reason for US travelers to “use extra caution” regarding that notice, which was issued in March.
A State Department spokesperson explained that because the Chinese government “continues to engage in this practice,” “the travel advisory has been updated to advise U.S. citizens to reconsider travel to mainland China due to the risk of arbitrary detention.”
“The Department of State determined that there is a risk of arbitrary detention of United States citizens by the government of the People’s Republic of China in the People’s Republic of China,” both the late-June and March warnings stated.
The warning update comes amid a period of heightened tensions between the United States and China.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Beijing last month in an effort to stop relations from deteriorating further, just as mistrust lingers. In a press conference at the end of the visit, Blinken said that the United States and China made “progress” to redirect relations, since both parties agreed on the need to “stabilize” the bilateral relationship between the two superpowers.
Blinken also said he raised the cases of the three Americans wrongfully detained in China: Kai Li, Mark Swidan and David Lin, noting that negotiations are underway to try to get their release.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will travel to Beijing this week as part of ongoing efforts to stabilize the US-China relationship.
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(Trends Wide) — Americans should reconsider travel to China due to the risk of arbitrary detention, the US State Department warned in an updated travel advisory issued Friday.
Although the previous advisory also classified mainland China as a “Tier 3: Reconsider travel” destination, this was due to the risk of “arbitrary application of local laws.” The risk of arbitrary detention was cited as a reason for US travelers to “use extra caution” regarding that notice, which was issued in March.
A State Department spokesperson explained that because the Chinese government “continues to engage in this practice,” “the travel advisory has been updated to advise U.S. citizens to reconsider travel to mainland China due to the risk of arbitrary detention.”
“The Department of State determined that there is a risk of arbitrary detention of United States citizens by the government of the People’s Republic of China in the People’s Republic of China,” both the late-June and March warnings stated.
The warning update comes amid a period of heightened tensions between the United States and China.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Beijing last month in an effort to stop relations from deteriorating further, just as mistrust lingers. In a press conference at the end of the visit, Blinken said that the United States and China made “progress” to redirect relations, since both parties agreed on the need to “stabilize” the bilateral relationship between the two superpowers.
Blinken also said he raised the cases of the three Americans wrongfully detained in China: Kai Li, Mark Swidan and David Lin, noting that negotiations are underway to try to get their release.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will travel to Beijing this week as part of ongoing efforts to stabilize the US-China relationship.
