If you’ve got plans to travel to China anytime soon, or have contemplated the idea, you might want to think twice about that because the US Department of State has listed China as a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” destination.
The US strongly urges individuals to reconsider travel to China due to the unpredictable enforcement of local laws, which include the imposition of exit bans and the possibility of being wrongfully detained—things you absolutely don’t want to be caught up in!
What are the warning signs?
The travel advisory highlights the inconsistent enforcement of local laws in mainland China, including exit bans on US citizens without a fair and transparent legal process. It warns that US citizens may face detention without access to consular services or information about their alleged crime, and they may be subjected to interrogations and detentions without fair treatment under the law.
Through the utilization of exit bans, the government aims to manipulate individuals into cooperating with investigations, enforce the return of family members who are abroad, sway the outcome of civil disputes in favor of Chinese citizens, and gain more bargaining power when dealing with other countries.
While mainland China is under a Level 3 travel warning, Hong Kong has a Level 2 travel warning, suggesting travelers be more cautious due to the unpredictable laws.