Latest news with #Mao
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Foreign nationals trapped? Xi Jinping's exit bans raise alarm over travel risks in China
A U.S. citizen who works for the Commerce Department went to China to visit family, but now can't leave the country, reported by The Washington Post. The man reportedly didn't mention on his visa that he worked for the U.S. government, which may have caused the issue. The U.S. State Department confirmed that China blocked a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office employee who was visiting China in a personal capacity, according to a spokesperson on Monday The U.S. is closely watching the case and is talking to Chinese officials to fix the situation quickly, said a State Department spokesperson, as per the Reuters report. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Finance Cybersecurity healthcare Management Artificial Intelligence Design Thinking Data Science others Leadership Product Management MBA Operations Management MCA Digital Marketing Technology Healthcare PGDM Degree Data Science Public Policy Project Management CXO Data Analytics Others Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Fintech & Blockchain India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 Months IIM Calcutta SEPO - IIMC CFO India Starts on undefined Get Details China says it is following the law The Commerce Department, which the Patent Office is part of, didn't respond to questions from reporters yet. The U.S. official's name was not revealed, and it's also unclear if he has been detained. When asked about the case, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said he had no specific details, but added that China follows its laws for all entry and exit cases, during a Tuesday briefing. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 15 Most Beautiful Women in the World Undo ALSO READ: Massive SharePoint breach, including US nuclear agency - Microsoft links attack to 3 China-backed hackers Beijing has often used 'exit bans' to stop people—both Chinese and foreigners—from leaving the country during civil disputes, criminal probes or regulatory issues, according to analysts. Experts also believe these exit bans are sometimes used to pressure foreign countries, or to control local dissent within China, as per the Reuters reports. Live Events More foreign citizens facing exit bans Tensions between the U.S. and China have already been high over things like trade, COVID-19, and Taiwan. In another case, Chenyue Mao, a U.S. citizen and banker for Wells Fargo, has also been banned from leaving China, confirmed by China's foreign ministry on Monday, as per the reports. Chinese officials said Mao is involved in a criminal investigation and must cooperate with the authorities. After Mao's case, Wells Fargo stopped all employee travel to China, a source told Reuters last week. More foreign executives are also being stopped at airports and barred from leaving, showing a wider pattern of rising risk for foreigners traveling to China, according to the report by Reuters. ALSO READ: Kyiv erupts: Massive protests rock Zelensky amid explosive anti-corruption scandal FAQs Q1. Why is a U.S. government employee not allowed to leave China? A U.S. official is reportedly stuck in China after failing to mention his government job on his visa, according to reports. Q2. What are China's exit bans and who do they affect? China uses exit bans to stop both foreigners and locals from leaving during legal or political issues, experts say.
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
US government employee banned from leaving China
WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. government employee has been banned from leaving China after traveling there in a personal capacity, the State Department said Tuesday, marking the latest case where Beijing has stopped U.S. nationals from departing the country. The State Department did not reveal the identity of the employee at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which is part of the Commerce Department, but said it is 'tracking this case very closely' and that it is engaged with Chinese officials to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. 'The Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens,' it said. FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping attends an event at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File) The Chinese government restricts people from leaving the country if they are involved in investigations, including business disputes, but it has been accused of using the tool to arbitrarily keep both Chinese and foreign nationals in the country. China's use of the exit ban and other concerns previously prompted the State Department to tell Americans to reconsider travel to China. The travel advisory was only eased in November after China released three U.S. citizens who were detained for years. It's one of the latest instances of such travel restrictions. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Chenyue Mao, a U.S.-based Wells Fargo banker, was blocked from leaving China, prompting the bank to suspend all travel to the country. Citing 'privacy and other considerations,' the State Department did not comment on Mao's case. Wells Fargo said Tuesday that it is 'closely tracking this situation and working through the appropriate channels so our employee can return to the United States as soon as possible.' Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said Mao is 'involved in a criminal case currently being handled by Chinese law-enforcement authorities' and that she is 'subject to exit restrictions in accordance with the law.' 'Let me stress that it is an individual judicial case,' Guo said. 'China will as always welcome people from all countries to travel and do business in China and ensure their rights and interests in accordance with the law.' Asked about the case involving the U.S. government employee, Guo said: 'I have no details to share. China upholds the rule of law and handles entry and exit affairs in accordance with the law.' Other Americans have faced China's exit ban. Two American siblings were only allowed to leave China in 2021 after they were stranded there for three years after visiting their relatives.
News18
a day ago
- Business
- News18
China Blocks US Commerce Department Official, Wells Fargo Banker From Leaving Country
Last Updated: The US State Department is monitoring the situation closely where two American citizens were handed exit bans. Beijing has placed a US Department of Commerce employee under an exit ban, preventing him from leaving China since mid-April, according to a report by CBS News which quoted the US State Department. The unnamed employee, reportedly on a personal trip, had his passport, credit cards, cellphone and iPad seized by Chinese officials in Chengdu on April 14, according to documents cited in a separate report by The New York Times. Although his belongings were returned after a week, Chinese authorities informed him that he was barred from leaving the country. The State Department confirmed the exit ban and said it was 'tracking this case very closely" while engaging with Chinese counterparts. Separately, China confirmed it has also placed a US-based Wells Fargo executive, Mao Chenyue, under an exit ban. At a press conference on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiaku refused to comment on the Commerce Department case but maintained that Beijing 'upholds the rule of law". According to the broadcaster's report, Guo confirmed that Mao Chenyue, a US citizen and senior executive at Wells Fargo, is facing criminal charges in China and remains subject to an exit ban. Wells Fargo told the broadcaster that it is 'closely tracking this situation and working through the appropriate channels" to help Mao return to the United States. The US State Department said it had no higher priority than the safety of American citizens but declined specific comment on Mao's case, citing privacy considerations. The twin cases have put renewed spotlight on China's opaque use of exit bans, often imposed without prior notice or legal clarity. According to the US State Department's travel advisory, Americans may only learn of such restrictions when they attempt to leave the country, that too with little or no recourse through Chinese courts. The advisory also warns that US citizens of Chinese descent may face added scrutiny. These incidents come at a sensitive juncture in US-China ties, with a looming August 12 deadline for a new trade deal. President Donald Trump, in his second term, has escalated tariffs on Chinese imports, sparking a tit-for-tat tariff war. While both sides declared a temporary truce for talks, risks for American businesses in China have been mounting. The latest exit bans echo concerns raised last year when Chinese authorities raided several US firms in Beijing. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Nikkei Asia
2 days ago
- Business
- Nikkei Asia
Washington says China will not let US government employee leave country
The United States Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Virginia: The U.S. government has confirmed that a USPTO employee visiting China has been prevented from leaving. © Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- The U.S. State Department said on Monday that the Chinese government had blocked a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office employee visiting the Asian country in a personal capacity from leaving. "We are tracking this case very closely and are engaged with Chinese officials to resolve the situation as quickly as possible," a State Department spokesperson said. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is part of the federal Department of Commerce. The individual's name and whether the person was detained were not disclosed. The Chinese embassy in Washington and the U.S. Commerce Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Washington Post reported on Sunday that a U.S. citizen who works for the Commerce Department had traveled to China several months ago to visit family. The man was being prevented from leaving the country after he failed to disclose on his visa application that he worked for the U.S. government, the newspaper said, citing sources. Beijing has used exit bans on both Chinese and foreign nationals in connection with civil disputes, regulatory enforcement and criminal investigations. Analysts say the tactic is at times used to crack down on local dissent and also as diplomatic leverage in disputes with other nations. Washington and Beijing have had friction for years over tariffs, the origins of COVID-19, Taiwan and other issues. Chenyue Mao, a Wells Fargo banker, has also been blocked from leaving China. Beijing's foreign ministry said on Monday she was involved in a criminal case and obliged to cooperate with an investigation. Mao was the latest of several executives from foreign corporations to be stopped as they tried to depart China. The U.S. bank suspended all employee travel to China after Mao's exit ban, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters last week, saying Mao was a U.S. citizen.
NBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- NBC News
Washington says China will not let U.S. government employee leave the country
WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department said Monday that the Chinese government had blocked a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office employee visiting the Asian country in a personal capacity from leaving. 'We are tracking this case very closely and are engaged with Chinese officials to resolve the situation as quickly as possible,' a State Department spokesperson said. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is part of the federal Department of Commerce. The individual's name and whether the person was detained were not disclosed. The Chinese Embassy in Washington and the U.S. Commerce Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Washington Post reported Sunday that a U.S. citizen who works for the Commerce Department had traveled to China several months ago to visit family. The man was being prevented from leaving the country after he failed to disclose on his visa application that he worked for the U.S. government, the newspaper said, citing sources. Beijing has used exit bans on both Chinese and foreign nationals in connection with civil disputes, regulatory enforcement and criminal investigations. Analysts say the tactic is at times used to crack down on local dissent and also as diplomatic leverage in disputes with other nations. Washington and Beijing have had friction for years over issues ranging from tariffs to Taiwan and the origins of Covid-19. Chenyue Mao, a Wells Fargo banker, has also been blocked from leaving China. Beijing's foreign ministry said Monday that she was involved in a criminal case and obliged to cooperate with an investigation. Mao is the latest of several executives from foreign corporations to be stopped as they tried to depart China. The U.S. bank suspended all employee travel to China after Mao's exit ban, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters last week, saying Mao was a U.S. citizen.
