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The U.S. has recommended that Americans reconsider traveling to China due to concerns over arbitrary law enforcement, exit bans, and the risk of wrongful detentions. This advisory follows the sentencing of a 78-year-old U.S. citizen on spying charges and the recent passage of new laws in China that threaten countermeasures against those seen as harming the country’s interests. The advisory highlights China’s arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including issuing exit bans without fair and transparent processes. It warns that U.S. citizens in China may be detained without access to consular services and face broad accusations of espionage. The advisory also mentions a range of potential offenses that could lead to detention and highlights the use of exit bans as a means of exerting pressure and gaining leverage. Similar advisories were issued for Hong Kong and Macao. China has not yet responded to the travel advisory. Due to China’s authoritarian system, details of the accusations against the detained individual are not readily available.
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