A U.S. government employee from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has been barred from leaving China after visiting the country in a personal capacity, according to the State Department. While the individual’s identity remains undisclosed, U.S. officials emphasized they are handling the matter urgently and are in communication with Chinese authorities.
This incident adds to several recent cases involving exit bans on U.S. nationals, which the Chinese government enforces for individuals linked to investigations, often including business or legal disputes. Critics argue such measures are sometimes arbitrary. Notably, the U.S. travel advisory against China was relaxed only recently after the release of three Americans detained for years.
Similarly, Wells Fargo has suspended all travel to China after one of its employees, Chenyue Mao, was also prevented from leaving due to a criminal investigation. China’s foreign ministry claims these are individual legal matters being handled according to the law.
The U.S. embassy in China has voiced strong concerns over China’s use of exit bans, warning that such practices risk damaging U.S.-China relations. This comes after a U.S. Commerce Department employee was prevented from leaving China, reportedly while visiting relatives. These exit bans, often imposed without transparent legal proceedings, are straining ties between the two countries amid an ongoing trade war and ahead of a potential summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Beijing claims that all exit bans are lawful, citing the rule of law and ongoing criminal investigations, such as in the case of Wells Fargo banker Chenyue Mao. Despite China’s push to promote tourism and ease visa policies, the continued use of opaque exit bans, including recent cases involving Japanese and U.S. nationals, has sparked international criticism and heightened travel advisories.
In response to these developments, BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has implemented new restrictions for employees traveling to China for business. According to an internal memo, staff are prohibited from using company-issued devices such as laptops, iPhones, and iPads during such trips. Instead, they are required to use temporary loaner phones. Additionally, employees will not be allowed to access BlackRock’s network remotely, including through virtual private networks (VPNs), and the restrictions also apply during personal travel to China.
These measures come amid rising concerns over data security and the Chinese government’s increasing control over foreign visitors. The report highlights an incident involving a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office employee who was recently blocked from leaving China during a personal trip. Similarly, a Wells Fargo banker was detained earlier this month in connection with a criminal case, according to China’s foreign ministry.
The U.S. State Department has reported that a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office employee, who was visiting China privately, has been prevented from leaving by the Chinese government. The individual’s identity and detention status have not been disclosed. According to The Washington Post, the U.S. citizen, affiliated with the Commerce Department, failed to disclose his government employment on his visa application, which may have contributed to the situation. The U.S. government is actively working with Chinese officials to resolve the issue.
This incident comes amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing over various political and economic issues. China has previously imposed travel bans on both citizens and foreigners during legal and regulatory probes, sometimes using such measures for diplomatic leverage. In a related development, Wells Fargo banker Chenyue Mao, also a U.S. citizen, was recently barred from leaving China due to her involvement in a criminal investigation. As a result, Wells Fargo has suspended all employee travel to China.
China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Mao’s case, asserting that she must cooperate with the legal proceedings. The U.S. embassy has expressed concerns over the use of exit bans, warning that such practices risk damaging bilateral relations. The embassy confirmed it is closely monitoring the situation and has repeatedly urged Chinese authorities to allow affected U.S. citizens to return home.
The use of exit bans by China has been a point of contention in U.S.-China relations, with critics arguing that such measures are sometimes arbitrary and lack transparency. The U.S. government continues to engage with Chinese authorities to address these concerns and ensure the safety and security of American citizens abroad.
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