China issues travel warning for citizens heading to the U.S.

In a travel warning published on the WeChat account of China’s Foreign Ministry, it recalled that some Chinese students and company employees have recently faced "unlawful questioning and harassment by police" at airports in the U.S.

The statement noted that Chinese citizens’ phones, computers and other items in their luggage were searched one by one, and that some were barred from entering the country, saying those traveling to the U.S. could encounter similar situations.

The statement said China’s Foreign Ministry, its embassy in Washington and its consulates in the country had protested to U.S. authorities over the matter.

CHINA HAD PROTESTED

In a statement published on January 29, China’s embassy in Washington said it had protested to the U.S. over the mistreatment some Chinese students faced upon arriving at Dulles International Airport in Washington.

The statement said students’ electronic devices were checked at the airport, they were prevented from contacting their parents and, in some cases, were held for up to 10 hours. It noted that the behavior of border control officers disrupted the academic studies of Chinese students and caused serious psychological harm.

The statement emphasized that the practice was contrary to the agreement reached by U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting in San Francisco in November 2023 to increase people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

China’s Ambassador to Washington Xie Feng said the mistreatment was "unacceptable," adding: "Chinese students face questioning that can last up to 8 hours when they land at the airport. They cannot contact their parents, baseless accusations are made against them, and they are even deported and denied entry to the country."

The embassy warned Chinese students to "be cautious when arriving at the airport in question."

STUDENTS RECEIVING STATE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE BEING QUESTIONED

China Science Daily, a publication of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, reported in January that a Chinese student pursuing a PhD in biological sciences in the U.S. had been questioned at Dulles Airport.

The report said the female student was searched, questioned for 8 hours and kept alone in detention for 12 hours, and noted that 10 other Chinese students had faced similar treatment.

It is stated that during the questioning, students were investigated over the scholarships they received from the China Scholarship Council for their studies in the U.S. and their roles in classified research.

News Source: AA