State Department Confirms Case, Highlighting Beijing's Use of Controversial Travel Restrictions
WASHINGTON D.C. – A U.S. government employee has been banned from leaving China after traveling there in a personal capacity, the State Department said Tuesday, marking the latest case where Beijing has stopped U.S. nationals from departing the country.
The State Department did not reveal the identity of the employee, who works for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), but said it is “tracking this case very closely.” It confirmed that U.S. officials are engaged with their Chinese counterparts to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
“The Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens,” the department affirmed in a statement.
The Chinese government restricts people from leaving the country if they are involved in investigations, including business disputes, but it has been accused of using the tool to arbitrarily keep both Chinese and foreign nationals in the country as a form of diplomatic leverage.
This is one of several recent high-profile instances of such travel restrictions. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Chenyue Mao, a U.S.-based Wells Fargo banker, was blocked from leaving China, prompting the bank to suspend all travel to the country.
While the State Department did not comment on Mao's case, citing “privacy and other considerations,” Wells Fargo said Tuesday that it is “closely tracking this situation and working through the appropriate channels so our employee can return to the United States as soon as possible.”
Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said Mao is “involved in a criminal case currently being handled by Chinese law-enforcement authorities” and is “subject to exit restrictions in accordance with the law.”
“Let me stress that it is an individual judicial case,” Guo said. “China will as always welcome people from all countries to travel and do business in China and ensure their rights and interests in accordance with the law.”
When asked about the case involving the U.S. government employee, Guo stated: “I have no details to share. China upholds the rule of law and handles entry and exit affairs in accordance with the law.”
Concerns over China's use of exit bans and arbitrary detentions previously prompted the State Department to tell Americans to reconsider travel to China. The travel advisory was only eased in November 2023 after China released three U.S. citizens who had been detained for years. Other Americans have also faced China's exit ban, including two American siblings who were only allowed to leave China in 2021 after being stranded there for three years.
