The U.S. has issued a recommendation urging Americans to reconsider their travel plans to China due to concerns over arbitrary law enforcement, exit bans, and the potential for wrongful detentions.

The advisory, which was not accompanied by specific cases, was prompted by recent events, including the sentencing of a 78-year-old U.S. citizen to life in prison on spying charges, the Daily Mail reported.

This development, along with the passage of a comprehensive Foreign Relations Law that poses threats of countermeasures against individuals deemed harmful to China’s interests, has raised alarm.

China has also recently enacted a broadly worded counterespionage law, causing unease among the foreign business community.

Instances of office raids and the introduction of a law to sanction foreign critics have further contributed to a chilling effect.

Written by staff