U.S. Citizens Traveling to China to Exercise Increased Caution
- davyday
- Jan 7, 2019
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 2, 2019
Travel alert, courtesy of Pearl Law Group
What happened?
On January 3, 2019, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) updated its travel advisory warning U.S. citizens, particularly dual U.S.-Chinese citizens and U.S. citizens of Chinese descent, to exercise “increased caution” when traveling to China. Chinese authorities may prohibit U.S. citizens from departing China by imposing exit bans.
As context, on a scale of 4 (4 being the most serious warning), this travel advisory is a Level 2 alert. U.S. citizens should exercise “increased caution” for their travels to China. Level 3 is the level where U.S. citizens need to reconsider their travels.
What should you do?
All U.S. citizens should be mindful of this travel advisory when planning their trips to China. If possible, postpone your trip at least until trade war tensions between the U.S. and China deescalate. If you must travel, please take the specific precautions as recommended by DOS.
Travelers who should be more concerned with this travel advisory are the dual U.S.-Chinese citizens and U.S. citizens of Chinese descent. They should more seriously consider postponing their trips to China.
More details:
The travel advisory came in the midst of the ongoing U.S.-China trade war, especially highlighted by the recent arrest of a high profile CFO of a Chinese multinational conglomerate on the orders of U.S. authorities. More details.
Chinese authorities could prohibit U.S. citizens from departing China by using exit bans, sometimes keeping U.S. citizens in China for years. Exit bans are used to:
Compel U.S. citizens to participate in Chinese government investigations;
Lure individuals back to China from abroad; and
Aid Chinese authorities in resolving civil disputes in favor of Chinese parties.
As reported by DOS, “in most cases, U.S. citizens only become aware of the exit ban when they attempt to depart China, and there is no method to find out how long the ban may continue.” In some cases, “U.S. citizens may be detained without access to U.S. consular services.”
Impacted travelers are advised to continue monitoring DOS’s travel advisory.
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