A United States citizen employed by the U.S. Department of Commerce has been subjected to a travel ban in China that has persisted for several months.
The incident coincides with ongoing efforts by both Beijing and Washington to arrange a leaders’ summit aimed at addressing trade disputes.
The individual, who is of Chinese-American descent and works at the Patent and Trademark Office, reportedly traveled to China to visit relatives, as per a report from the Washington Post.
According to unnamed sources, the travel ban was enacted because the employee allegedly failed to disclose his U.S. government affiliation when applying for a visa.
In response, U.S. officials have conveyed a high-level message to Chinese authorities urging them to permit the individual to leave the country.
While the name of the detained individual has not been disclosed, it has raised alarms within the U.S. government.
This situation unfolds against the backdrop of complex trade negotiations ongoing between the two nations.
Since President Donald Trump imposed high tariffs on Chinese imports, both countries have taken steps to de-escalate rising tensions, including discussions about a potential trade agreement.
President Trump has expressed a desire to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping to resolve various issues, such as technology constraints, rare earth materials, and the status of Taiwan.
In an effort to facilitate a summit, Trump has toned down his previously aggressive rhetoric that emphasized the significant trade deficit and job losses attributable to China.
Following dialogue between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, there seems to be a mutual interest in arranging a high-level meeting between the two leaders.
Recent statements suggested that Xi Jinping might convene a summit involving both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Analysts believe that this latest incident could hinder American business executives’ willingness to travel to China, particularly as the Trump administration plans to bring a group of CEOs to the summit with Xi later in the year.
Jeremy Chan, a senior analyst focused on China and Northeast Asia, believes that such cases could complicate the already fragile relationship between the two economic powers.
The employee, who is reportedly a U.S. Army veteran, was detained in April upon his arrival in Chengdu, a city in southwestern China.
The South China Morning Post highlighted that the exit ban results from actions deemed detrimental to national security, although specifics surrounding the situation remain unclear.
Despite this ban, the U.S. official traveled with the employee to the Chinese capital following his detention, indicating some level of diplomatic engagement.
The Patent and Trademark Office’s website emphasizes its mission to foster U.S. innovation and global competitiveness, underscoring the significance of the work the detained employee is involved in.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Beijing reiterated that the safety of American citizens abroad is the embassy’s highest priority.
The spokesperson stated that they are actively monitoring the situation and have expressed their concerns about these arbitrary exit bans to Chinese officials.
They urged China to permit affected U.S. nationals to return home without delay.
In response to inquiries about the situation, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun maintained a lack of information regarding the matter, insisting that China adheres to the rule of law when handling such cases.
Guo stated, “We handle relevant cases in strict accordance with the law,” reiterating China’s commitment to legal processes.
image source from：unn
