US adds wrongful detention warning to its China travel advisory

The US State Department has updated its travel advisory for China, warning American travellers of elevated risks of arbitrary detention, exit bans and digital surveillance. The advisory keeps China at Level 2, "Exercise Increased Caution", but adds a "D" risk indicator for wrongful detention.

The State Department said Chinese authorities aggressively enforce broad national security laws without a fair or transparent legal process. It warned that almost any document, statistic or piece of data can be designated a "state secret" retroactively, and that routine professional, academic or business activities may be treated as criminal offences.

Key facts

• Advisory level: Level 2, "Exercise Increased Caution", with a new "D" indicator for wrongful detention
• Main risks cited: arbitrary detention, exit bans and digital surveillance
• Groups facing heightened scrutiny: US citizens of Chinese descent, people in commercial disputes, and those with current or past ties to the US government, military, intelligence agencies or law enforcement
• At least two US citizens in China have been formally designated as wrongfully detained

Who is most at risk?

The State Department highlighted several groups facing heightened scrutiny, including US citizens of Chinese descent, individuals involved in commercial disputes, and anyone with current or past ties to the US government, military, intelligence agencies or law enforcement.

Dual nationals and naturalised US citizens of Chinese descent are strongly encouraged to enter China using a US passport with an appropriate Chinese visa.

What should travellers know about exit bans and surveillance?

Chinese authorities frequently use exit bans during legal or commercial disputes, preventing individuals — and sometimes their relatives, including children — from leaving the country. Many travellers only learn of an exit ban when they try to board a flight home.

US citizens should also expect their electronic communications, social media activity and text messages to be monitored by local authorities. The State Department reported that people have been detained or deported over private messages considered critical of Chinese authorities, even when those messages were sent outside China.

Who has been designated wrongfully detained?

The State Department has formally designated at least two US citizens in China as wrongfully detained. Chen Youlin, a Chinese American seismologist who worked on a US government-funded research project studying North Korean underground nuclear tests, was arrested in November 2024 while visiting family, accused of espionage in May 2025 and designated as wrongfully detained in March 2026.

The second is Min Zin, a Myanmar-born American scholar studying Myanmar politics and regional relations. He was detained in Yunnan province in June 2026 under espionage allegations and designated as wrongfully detained on 20 August.

What this means for travellers

Americans planning necessary travel to China are advised to enrol in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), keep valid documentation and arrange regular check-ins with family or employers.

Travel expert and former flight attendant Bobby Laurie urged caution around photography: "You could inadvertently photograph law enforcement or find yourself near a protest."

A State Department spokesperson said the Trump Administration's highest priority is the safety and security of Americans, and that efforts remain focused on securing the release of citizens held abroad.