US State department urges Americans to ‘reconsider’ travel to China

US State department warns Americans of an increased risk of ‘exit bans and risk of wrongful detention’ ahead of Janet Yellen’s trip to Beijing.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Chinese vice-premier Liu He pose ahead of their meeting on the sideline of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, in January. Picture: AFP.

The Biden administration has warned Americans to “reconsider” travel to China because of an increased risk of “exit bans and the risk of wrongful detention”, at the same time as it steps up diplomatic efforts to stabilise relations with Beijing.

In a new travel advisory the State Department, issued days before Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is set to visit Beijing on her first mission as a cabinet minister, said the risks were particularly great for dual US-Chinese citizens and US citizens of Chinese descent.

“The People’s Republic of China (PRC) government arbitrarily enforces local laws, including issuing exit bans on U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries, without fair and transparent process under the law,” the state department said in new advice issued on 30th June.

“US citizens travelling or residing in the PRC may be detained without access to US consular services or information about their alleged crime,” it warned as part of a new “level 3” advisory, the second highest alert after “Do No Travel”.

The PRC doesn’t recognise dual nationality.

Ms Yellen will travel to Beijing on Thursday (Friday AEST) for a three-day visit to “discuss with PRC officials the importance for our countries … to responsibly manage our relationship, communicate directly about areas of concern, and work together to address global challenges”, according to the Treasury.

Relations between the world’s two biggest economies have soured in recent years following disputes over Covid-19, Taiwan, Beijing’s support for Russia, Chinese theft of US technology and domestic human rights abuses, and treatment of American citizens and other foreign nationals.

The PRC has detained three Americans, David Lin, 67, a pastor imprisoned in China since 2006, Kai Li, 60, sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2018 on spying charges, and Mark Swidan, 48, a Texas businessman convicted in 2019.

President Joe Biden last month called Chinese President Xi Jinping a dictator a few days after Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Beijing, comets a PRC spokesman later called an “irresponsible provocation”.

Ms Yellen visit comes as the US seeks to reduce its dependence on Chinese imports in critical sectors, and restrict China’s access to advanced semiconductors, which are crucial for manufacture of advanced communication technology, artificial intelligence and advanced weaponry.

Mr Blinken’s visit in mid June, which had been postponed after the discovery of a Chinese spy balloon over the US earlier this year, was the highest ranking visit by a US official in almost five years.

“The Secretary emphasised the importance of maintaining open channels of communication across the full range of issues to reduce the risk of miscalculation,” the state department later said, amid criticism the visit failed to secure any tangible relaxation in tension beyond a commitment to increase the number of commercial flights between the two countries.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs maintains a lower level advisory for China, urging travellers to “exercise a high degree of caution”.

“We‘re not saying ’don’t go’ to [China]. But you should do your research and take extra precautions,” the department states on its SmartTraveller website. “Australians may be at risk of arbitrary detention or harsh enforcement of local laws, including broadly defined National Security Laws”.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s visit to China last year failed to secure the release of Australian writer Yang Hengjun and journalist Cheng Lei have been imprisoned in China since 2019 and 2020, respectively,

Last month senior White House Adviser Kurt Campbell told Sky News that the US would help Australia in its negotiations with Beijing over the release of detained Australians