With the pandemic, not many people even had the option of traveling to China for the past few years, even if they wanted to. With China’s borders once again open on a widespread basis and tensions increasing, the US Department of State has issued a new elevated travel warning for China.
In this post:
US government says to reconsider travel to mainland China
As of June 30, 2023, mainland China has gotten a Level 3 travel warning from the US Department of State, advising people to reconsider travel due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans, and the risk of wrongful detention.
According to the travel advisory, the government in mainland China arbitrarily enforces local laws, including issuing exit bans on US citizens without fair and transparent process under the law.
US citizens traveling or residing in mainland China may be detained without access to US consular services or information about their alleged crime, and US citizens may be subjected to interrogation and detention without fair and transparent treatment under the law.
The advisory also states that foreign businesspeople, former foreign government personnel, academics, relatives to citizens involved in legal disputes, and journalists, have been interrogated and detained by officials for alleged violations of the country’s national security laws.
Authorities have broad discretion to deem a wide range of documents, data, statistics, or materials, as state secrets, and to detain and prosecute foreign nationals for alleged espionage. Furthermore, foreigners can be detained for sending private electronic messages critical of the government of China.
Lastly, the government has used exit bans (preventing people from leaving) to compel individuals to participate in government investigations, to pressure family members of the restricted individual to return to China from abroad, to resolve civil disputes in favor of Chinese citizens, and to gain bargaining leverage with foreign governments.
What about travel to Hong Kong?
While mainland China has a Level 3 travel warning from the US Department of State, Hong Kong only has a Level 2 travel warning, advising travelers to exercise increased caution due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws.
This is in relation to the June 2020 national security law that we’ve heard so much about, whereby the government of mainland China has demonstrated an intent to use the law to target a broad range of activities, such as acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion, with foreign entities.
This could include foreigners who have been publicly critical of the government being at a heightened risk of arrest, detention, expulsion, or prosecution.
My take on these travel advisories
Admittedly we all have different risk tolerance, and are all in different situations in our lives. Furthermore, many would argue that the US Department of State travel advisories are overly cautious. They share the biggest risks travelers face, even if the odds of getting caught up in any issues is very small.
I have to imagine that if the Department of State were to give domestic travel advisories, some places would be Level 2 or even Level 3.
The situation between the United States and China has deteriorated in recent years, and I absolutely think there’s more risk with traveling to China now than there was a few years back. Still, unless you’re a public figure who has been critical of the Chinese government, odds are that you’re not going to have any issues on a trip. That being said, there’s always some risk.
Would these travel advisories change my desire to travel to mainland China and/or Hong Kong? Here’s my own take:
- Personally I have no interest in traveling to mainland China for the time being, which is both because it’s not necessarily at the top of my list of places to visit (I’ve been many times), and due to the increased risk
- I would still like to travel to Hong Kong, though; I haven’t been in many years, it’s a place that’s very special to me, and despite the national security law, it still appears to be lower risk than traveling to the mainland.
- My top priority is traveling to Taiwan, for obvious reasons
Bottom line
The US Department of State has issued a new travel warning for mainland China, advising Americans to reconsider travel due to the risk of arbitrary detention. China has long been one of the trickier major countries to travel to (in terms of getting a visa, having to use a VPN for everything, etc.), and there’s no denying that visiting is even trickier post-pandemic, given how much international relations have deteriorated.
Everyone has to make their own decision regarding their comfort level with traveling to China, but it’s at least worth being aware of the warnings.
Would you consider traveling to China right now?
You need to stay at Westin Tashee, or Hoshinoya Guguan. I love Taiwan so so much!!!
@ bob.
Your comments make me want to vomit. How you fault another administration, is horrid. But you came after USA, ( then leave ) you choose 5 destinations that are level 4 plus and I’ll buy you tix. Conditions: You have to act how you do in America with freedoms. Take pictures and video and talk normally. If you make it back I’ll give you 100k, but you got to post journey. And...
@ bob.
Your comments make me want to vomit. How you fault another administration, is horrid. But you came after USA, ( then leave ) you choose 5 destinations that are level 4 plus and I’ll buy you tix. Conditions: You have to act how you do in America with freedoms. Take pictures and video and talk normally. If you make it back I’ll give you 100k, but you got to post journey. And all on social media and acting like tourist. Call me to book your trip. 5613250906. And at some point I’m sure you will realize america is amazing and “land of free” while not being political dick. I’m independent, but if you do get arrested on trip it is because current policies and leadership, not leadership before.
Why don't you check the travel advisory alerts for every country that you intend to travel to or have interest in? This advisory alert has been announced for years. It is not new. Seems you are getting more political on this blog. Other people have similar comments.
As a Chinese-American, the anti-Chinese sentiment I see everywhere, including on this site's comment section, is insane. It seems like virtually everyone who isn't Chinese, including other Asian ethnicities, has a pretty negative perception of anything China related. It's like China is the bully. I really hope the US and China don't go to war. I'd be fearing for my life. Meanwhile, everyone loves Japanese and Korean culture. It seems like at least at my...
As a Chinese-American, the anti-Chinese sentiment I see everywhere, including on this site's comment section, is insane. It seems like virtually everyone who isn't Chinese, including other Asian ethnicities, has a pretty negative perception of anything China related. It's like China is the bully. I really hope the US and China don't go to war. I'd be fearing for my life. Meanwhile, everyone loves Japanese and Korean culture. It seems like at least at my school, being Korean automatically makes you 10% more cool or interesting.
Also, to make matters worse, I'm technically a Hong Kong Chinese-American, which basically feels like being the lowest spot on the totem pole. I'm looked down upon the exact same way that mainland Chinese in general seem to be looked down upon by other cultures (especially because everyone worldwide knows Hong Kong is basically becoming a mainland city now) AND looked down upon by Chinese from other areas these days. Basically the least attractive subset of Chinese. It feels like the worst of both worlds.
It will be a sad day when the CCP dissolves or renames Cathay Pacific and perhaps makes the airport an Air China hub or focus city.
A total of 19 countries are at level 4: Do Not Travel and 27 countries are at level 3: Reconsider Travel. Plus almost half of Mexico is at either levels 3 o 4. Interestingly, Israel is at level 2.
I'm shocked Eskimo has not shared with us with her esoteric pearls of wisdom. There are two things that attract her to this forum like a vulture to a dead animal: (1) China/CCP/Xi Jinping and (2) news of injured/killed tourists.
The increased warning is probably a direct response to the newly revised “Anti-Espionage Law of the People’s Republic of China” that takes effect on Jul 01, 2023. With it’s nebulous language, it allows China unprecedented enforcement powers to investigate and prosecute individual and foreign corporations. The law highly increase the risk to foreign business communities in China rather than ordinary tourists. China’s crackdowns against foreign corporations have been rising, including detention of employees. Hence the...
The increased warning is probably a direct response to the newly revised “Anti-Espionage Law of the People’s Republic of China” that takes effect on Jul 01, 2023. With it’s nebulous language, it allows China unprecedented enforcement powers to investigate and prosecute individual and foreign corporations. The law highly increase the risk to foreign business communities in China rather than ordinary tourists. China’s crackdowns against foreign corporations have been rising, including detention of employees. Hence the updated of its travel advisory for China.
I think it's important to keep this elevated travel warning in proportion.
Egypt is also at a Level 3. My college-student daughter lived there for spring semester, January-early June. We visited her for a week in mid-March, and there were a moderate number of other western tourists there. Level 3 doesn't mean there aren't flights to that country or that the State Department believes it is very dangerous and no U.S. citizens should go....
I think it's important to keep this elevated travel warning in proportion.
Egypt is also at a Level 3. My college-student daughter lived there for spring semester, January-early June. We visited her for a week in mid-March, and there were a moderate number of other western tourists there. Level 3 doesn't mean there aren't flights to that country or that the State Department believes it is very dangerous and no U.S. citizens should go. It just means you should exercise a little extra caution. It may also mean travelers should have a heightened awareness that rights individuals take for granted in the U.S. do not pertain in other countries, e.g., it would be inadvisable for a foreigner who stumbled across a political protest to film it and then post it on social media.
Obviously there are some judgment calls to be made, and the State Department doesn't always get it right, but in broad terms, I get why Russia and Ukraine are currently at Level 4 and Greece and Malta are at Level 1. We have diplomats and other personnel in all of these countries making assessments and trying to give the best advice they can.
The two people that should follow state travel advisories are: Blinken and Yellen. Who has just been in China and the other is on her way.
The problem is every single time someone from the current US administration opens their mouth they seriously damage US China relations. Things will smooth over in 2025 with the next administration.
In the meantime If you have a factory to visit or are a banker that needs to go to Shanghai or HK go for it.
Yeah ok. There are 2 parties in the us, one of which will be in power in 2025. The democrats will not get along with China because of china's human rights stance and blatant theft of ip. The conservative republicans don't like the Chinese people. Relations were great with China during fat man's reign wasn't it (heavy /sarc). Neither party will allow Taiwan (and taiwan semiconductor corp) to go to China.
so the state department is saying we can't walk off the plan with a Winnie the Xi t shirt?
Just another anecdotal account - I was in Hong Kong and Beijing this past May-June, and had absolutely no issues except some confusion about needing to fill out a health declaration on an app before customs at PEK. The only thing approaching unpleasantness experienced during the trip was the typical interaction with customs at SFO trying to re-enter US.
cold war between the US and China getting real.
Better buy those military industrial complex stocks.
I have been twice in China, last time just this May. The biggest challenge was language, as English is not widely spoken. Apart from that it felt very safe and local people could not be more polite and helpful. Hong Kong, on the other hand, is one of the dirtiest, most overcrowded places I have ever seen. Also people are extremly rude, even walking on a street is tiring with all the crowds.
So... China, I would go again gladly, Hong Kong, never again!
I have the opposite experience. The hutongs, as hard as China tries to conceal them from tourists are all over and reeks like a 3rd world country. I can understand the language and if you think they were nice to you, yes to your face but not as soon as they have collected your money. I hear it first hand. Much better experience and comfort for me in hkg. But I won't go to either anytime soon. China is just infuriating to me these days.
Hong Kong ain't what it used to be. And I'm saying this as someone with extended family who basically hails from there. Also Mandarin is easier and way more useful than Cantonese. Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Seoul, and Tokyo are collectively filling in the void that the old democratic Hong Kong left.
It’s funny, even travel to france is still level 2 where law aren’t even upheld anymore. Blinken and his department are extremely dumb. Level 3 meanwhile the US has continued mass shooting and people becoming zombies.
Don’t trust everything you read.
Urban violence (due to a 17yo kid shot by a police officer) was limited to specific districts outside Paris and some other cities.
and while crime is much higher in many places in the US, it isn't necessarily targeted at tourists.
So you're saying the crime in the US is OK, so long as tourists aren't targeted?
I am not excusing any violence or crime but you and others continue to do is conflate citizen actions - as happens in the US - against government actions - which is what the US is warning about happens in China.
As for the citizen vs. government issues in France, if it isn't resolved fairly quickly, I do think an increased travel advisory if not warning is justified.
tell that to every tourist that has had their rental car broken into in San Francisco and other tourist destinations in the US.
It is worse. The violence is random in the US so you cannot avoid it even if you try.
I was in Champs Elysees on Sunday and can tell you there was riot in the city (maybe not as savage as the suburb but there certainly is) and on AF flight in CPH going back to paris.
I'm not concern about Macron detaining me and then try to work in a prisoner swap. He might make me work longer for govt handouts but he ain't gonna throw me in jail and threaten family members. Although with me I would just save them time and give them my family's address.
Anyone that has studied world history knows that the China of today is moving into a very different phase than when President Nixon normalized relations with China. They are facing enormous internal challenges for which becoming more aggressive to the outside world is a viable solution to its internal challenges.
Many western companies are working aggressively to at least develop backups to their huge China manufacturing operations. China decided to stop subsidizing its airlines'...
Anyone that has studied world history knows that the China of today is moving into a very different phase than when President Nixon normalized relations with China. They are facing enormous internal challenges for which becoming more aggressive to the outside world is a viable solution to its internal challenges.
Many western companies are working aggressively to at least develop backups to their huge China manufacturing operations. China decided to stop subsidizing its airlines' longhaul international losses which allow Chinese to see the world pre-covid.
The result is that there is and will be much less capacity over the Pacific which helps every other transpacific airline as the economic center of gravity in Asia shifts further from China and HKG. China is a huge country and market and airlines that connect China and the US via their hubs - esp. Korean and Japanese airlines - will grow stronger.
Great analysis but not relevant to the question at hand: is it too risky now, to an individual person, to visit China for tourism? Is Washington's warning hyperbole? My own take is that it's more risky, but not too risky. But I have no personal expertise. On Taiwan, though, I can say after 3 visits that of the many dozens of places I've visited, Taiwan is in the top 3 for trip satisfaction. GO. It's special.
China's role in global aviation and its connection to the US is relevant to changes in the risk of traveling there. The amount of travel that a country does is related to how much connecting capacity they put on the market. Chinese airlines competed in the transpacific market with airlines from S. Korea, Japan, HKG and Taiwan and a huge amount of Chinese/HKG transpacific capacity is just not there any more. China is limiting capacity...
China's role in global aviation and its connection to the US is relevant to changes in the risk of traveling there. The amount of travel that a country does is related to how much connecting capacity they put on the market. Chinese airlines competed in the transpacific market with airlines from S. Korea, Japan, HKG and Taiwan and a huge amount of Chinese/HKG transpacific capacity is just not there any more. China is limiting capacity to/from the US which results in higher fares so there is no chance in the foreseeable future of China returning to its previous role in competing in the connecting transpac market.
That said, there is a low risk for someone that simply wants to go to China for tourism, has no family connections, is not involved in any business or government activities, and has not criticized the Chinese government - but each of those takes a significant part of the potential visitor pool off the table.
Whether the US is being hypersensitive with its warning, let's not forget the number of high-profile Americans that have been held in Russia recently and the enormous challenges created in taking care of them. If nothing else, the US government is essentially telling Americans "you were warned"
I was in Shanghai for 4 days before the pandemic and have no desire to go back.
Can you imagine going through checkpoints just to get onto the subway and have to use your passport to buy a train ticket for a 30 minutes ride?
Don’t even get me started on how rude some of the general public. But I guess if you haven’t been then it is worthwhile to experience it once.
You can't buy street snacks anymore in much of China. They don't take cash or credit cards. They only accept cash systems that visitors don't have.
Hong Kong is no longer any different from the mainland, unfortunately.
These travel warnings are idiotic, and pure and typical American jingoism and chest beating. Conversely, there should be a travel advisory for people coming to the United States, given the daily mass shootings, institutionalized racism, bigotry, and right wing Christian fascism.
I suggest you move out of big cities and stop watching TV. It's unhealthy to live like this.
I agree. the issue is MOSTLY in big cities, but the US has gone crazy. Instead of just treating everyone with respect and dignity, govt and corporations force feed emails about LGBTQ and anti racism. This alone creates separation instead of togetherness. I am Jewish and when I visit Germany, I do not expect any Israeli flags waving around. We learn form the past and move on. Equal treatment of individuals has no hope in...
I agree. the issue is MOSTLY in big cities, but the US has gone crazy. Instead of just treating everyone with respect and dignity, govt and corporations force feed emails about LGBTQ and anti racism. This alone creates separation instead of togetherness. I am Jewish and when I visit Germany, I do not expect any Israeli flags waving around. We learn form the past and move on. Equal treatment of individuals has no hope in the USA until people learn to treat others kindly without trying to garnish recognition form the worlds for doing so.
@lavanderialarry, you forgot to mention the far left progressive fascism in America as well.
you forgot to mention the far left progressive fascism in America as well.
Far left fascism, eh?
Where can we observe that... in the same place where they have cold heat? Or loud silence? Complex simplicity?
This is extremely wise. Given the long term danger that China poses (to which most of the world, certainly Asia, is oblivious to) one could argue that a more robust clampdown on travel to and from China is required. Certainly the hotels and flights are full already and fares / hotel rates are high enough as it is.
The "long term danger" is not relevant to a Travel Warning. If I agree entirely with the rationale behind this opinion of China and of the world's response to it, I still might like to go to Shanhai for 5 days. The question is how risky that is to a non-famous, non-political normal traveller. Perhaps Saudi Arabia would illustrate this point better. Ben has written more than once about the intrigue of the Kingdom, about which there is much to criticize.
Not a big fan of China and I certainly have no desire to visit anyhow but the state department does get a bit ridiculous with their travel warnings sometimes.
They've had a travel warning for Israel for ages.....
Chinese public infrastructure surpassed those in American cities more than a decade back. Seeing it in person will cause mental distress for Americans when they return to the states and observe the dirty, outdated and crumbling infrastructure. This is the primary reason for Americans to avoid travel to China.
Good point!
This guy sounds like a propaganda minister for Chairman Xi.
This is the only thing people who is dumb has anything to say about china
Funny dude. America developed our infrastructure when the Chinese were still getting their food rationing. Yeah, our infrastructure may be getting old but they are still standing, not like the tofu projects in China crumbling before your own eyes. I will take living in America any day over getting harassed by your own government.
Just look at the amount people who have moved out of Hong Kong in the last years. So sad.
This AI guy said he wasn’t a fan of China, never been to China, sees everything thru western media and now says tofu project. American infrastructure is still standing? Omg.. america just had i95 bridge collapsed. Your own infrastructure report card was given lower compared to other OECD. Come on.
I am an immigrant from third world who has lived in US and now lived in China. There’s no arbitrary law enforcement. There’s a...
This AI guy said he wasn’t a fan of China, never been to China, sees everything thru western media and now says tofu project. American infrastructure is still standing? Omg.. america just had i95 bridge collapsed. Your own infrastructure report card was given lower compared to other OECD. Come on.
I am an immigrant from third world who has lived in US and now lived in China. There’s no arbitrary law enforcement. There’s a law that they’ve ignored but decided to suddenly enforce it? What’s wrong with that. The law was there for a reason.
@JKjkjk
Dude, had you read my comment I said I visited Shanghai for four days before the pandemic. So yes I have been to China.
And stop spreading misinformation about I95. It collapsed because of a tanker fire. CCP misinformation fail as always!!!
“There’s no arbitrary law enforcement. There’s a law that they’ve ignored but decided to suddenly enforce it? What’s wrong with that. The law was there for a reason.”
You are either ignorant or a liar. The Hong Kong national security law was enacted “retroactively” to punish the people who protested China taking away their freedom. Similarly a new law was passed to not allow Jimmy Lại to hire an attorney from the UK. Yeah,...
“There’s no arbitrary law enforcement. There’s a law that they’ve ignored but decided to suddenly enforce it? What’s wrong with that. The law was there for a reason.”
You are either ignorant or a liar. The Hong Kong national security law was enacted “retroactively” to punish the people who protested China taking away their freedom. Similarly a new law was passed to not allow Jimmy Lại to hire an attorney from the UK. Yeah, the law is there for a reason and they pass laws and enforce them retroactively.
I agree that, from what I observed, “modern” infrastructure in China looks and feels very shoddily built.
However, on the other hand, US infrastructure is old, outdated, and crumbling compared that found in actual developed nations whose priorities are placed higher on infrastructure development and upkeep.
When were you in China last, Al? Crumbling China is not what I saw when I was there. Much of it is gleaming and new. Well built. Take an honest look at the US after taking your ideological blinkers off.
@Indopithecus. Dude, you can only comment on what you saw and where you went. Don’t equate what i commented with any ideology. This is call the free world if you can understand that
That must be why the wumao are typing up this drivel from their San Gabriel Valley homes.
Foreigners shit on the U.S. from within it, yet are quick to defend the places they fled. Meanwhile, which Westerners are flocking to China, Russia, India, Pakistan, etc.?
Now pardon me while I go wave my Colombian flag around Miami.
Yet it's the Chinese who wants to go and move to America more than any other people on the planet lmao
"My top priority is traveling to Taiwan, for obvious reasons"
Starlux A350? Checking out the new Hilton Tapestry Collection hotel in Taipei (The Resonance)? Starting a business using imported Hello Kitty toilet paper?
Yeah I also wasn't clear what the reason is. Maybe I missed a previous blog post
The way he has been making noise about this airline for years, it's about time he actually tried the product. Yes, other than shorthaul on an inaugural.
I can't help thinking that he must be getting paid to spew out so much positive content.
The obvious reason is that the illegitimate, tyrannical CCP is threatening to invade the sovereign state of Taiwan and, if the US/western allies fail to mount an appropriate defense, then Taiwan will (like China) become not worth visiting given the risks of CCP detention/violence.