U.S. Issues Travel Advisory for China Over Risks of Arbitrary Detentions

U.S. Warns Americans to Reconsider Travel to China Over Wrongful and Arbitrary Detention Risks

July 3, 2023

The U.S. State Department has warned Americans to reconsider traveling to mainland China, citing the risk of wrongful detention by Chinese authorities. In an updated travel advisory, Washington said China continues to arbitrarily enforce its laws and detain foreign nationals without transparent legal processes.

The advisory follows earlier warnings about arbitrary law enforcement and notes that U.S. citizens may be detained on vague charges, including espionage, with limited access to consular assistance. The State Department confirmed that at least three Americans — Kai Li, Mark Swidan, and David Lin — remain wrongfully detained in China.

The warning was issued amid heightened U.S.–China tensions, even as senior officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have sought to stabilize bilateral relations while pressing Beijing on detained U.S. citizens.