U.S. Dept. of State - IIP: The United States and China

Text: Public Announcement on Detention of U.S. Citizens in China
(State Department warns travelers of increased risk)

The Department of State issued a public announcement April 19 cautioning Americans -- especially Americans of Chinese origin -- that they should carefully evaluate their risk of being detained by Chinese authorities before deciding whether to travel to China.

The announcement states that individuals who have at any time engaged in activities or published writings critical of Chinese government policies, or who have traveled to Taiwan or been involved with Taiwan media organizations, are particularly at risk of detention, even if they have previously visited China without incident.

The announcement was made in response to recent cases in which the Chinese Ministry of State Security has taken American citizens and U.S. permanent residents of Chinese origin into custody under suspicion of espionage or damaging China's national security. However, the Chinese Government has not offered any evidence to substantiate these allegations.

U.S. citizens planning to visit or reside in China are advised to consult the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet (CIS) for the People's Republic of China.

The announcement does not apply to the Hong Kong or Macau Special Administrative Regions, or to Taiwan.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
CHINA
April 19, 2001

The Ministry of State Security (MSS) of the People's Republic of China has recently taken into custody several American citizens and U.S. permanent residents of Chinese origin. Of these, at least two Americans are now being detained by the Chinese authorities under suspicion of espionage or damaging China's national security, even though the Chinese Government has not offered any evidence to substantiate these allegations. Others have been questioned for up to four days and then released.

The Department of State cautions Americans, especially Americans originally from China, that there may be a risk of being detained upon returning to China, if they have at any time engaged in activities or published writings critical of Chinese government policies. In some cases, travel to Taiwan or involvement with Taiwan media organizations has apparently also been regarded as the equivalent of espionage by MSS. Therefore, persons with a history of such activities or writings should carefully evaluate this information in deciding whether to travel to China.

It should be noted as well that the Americans recently detained by MSS had previously visited China without incident, but were nonetheless detained during their most recent visits. At least two of the Americans were identified by MSS as persons of interest, even though they had changed their names in the U.S. upon naturalization or marriage.

U.S. citizens planning to visit or reside in China are advised to consult the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet (CIS) for the People's Republic of China. The CIS provides the addresses, telephone numbers, and fax numbers for the U.S. Embassy and Consulates General along with other important information for Americans living or traveling in China. It is available at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad and through the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet home page at http://travel.state.gov/.

This Public Announcement does not apply to the Hong Kong or Macau Special Administrative Regions, or to Taiwan.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)