US Warns Americans of ‘Serious Risk of Wrongful Detention’ in China

The State Department building in Washington on July 27, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

The U.S. State Department on Oct. 19 added a risk label to its travel advisory for China, warning Americans living in or traveling to the Asian nation that they could be wrongfully detained by the Chinese communist regime.

“The Department of State has determined that Americans are at serious risk of wrongful detention in China,” a spokesperson told The Epoch Times in a statement.

The newly included “D” label in the State Department’s travel advisory for mainland China came as Beijing continued to hold two U.S. citizens who Washington had said were detained on wrongful charges.

U Min Zin, who co-founded a think tank focused on Burma (also known as Myanmar), was arrested on June 3 in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan, where he was invited by Chinese authorities to attend an academic conference.

The other U.S. citizen wrongfully held by the regime is Chen Youlin, a Chinese-born seismologist who has been held for nearly two years without a trial.

The State Department said the Trump administration is committed to securing the release of Chen and Min Zin, as well as all Americans wrongfully detained overseas.

“The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans,” the spokesperson said, adding that the department encourages all Americans traveling to or in mainland China to read the entire travel advisory.

The update came weeks after the State Department website updated its travel advisory for China. In addition to the warning of unjust arrest or detention risks, it included a phrase cautioning that Beijing’s use of exit bans lacks “a fair and transparent process under the law.”

The current travel advisory maintains a Level 2 warning for mainland China and Hong Kong, which asks Americans to exercise “increased caution.” U.S. citizens are advised to “reconsider travel” to Macau, due to a limited ability to provide emergency consular assistance.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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