BEIJING.- The US recommended that Americans reconsider travel to China due to the arbitrary application of the law, prohibitions to leave the country and the risk of unfair arrests.
Although the warning did not mention specific cases, it was issued after a 78-year-old US citizen was sentenced in May to life in prison on espionage charges.
In addition, the Chinese government passed a sweeping Foreign Relations Law last week that threatens countermeasures against countries deemed to harm China’s interests.
Beijing recently passed another broadly worded counterintelligence law and which has caused nervousness in the foreign business community, with raids on various offices. A law has also been passed to penalize foreign critics.
“The government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) arbitrarily applies local lawswhich includes issuing prohibitions to leave the country to United States citizens and citizens of other countries, without fair and transparent processes under the law, “said the US recommendation.
“US citizens traveling to or residing in the PRC could be detained without access to US consular services or information about their alleged crime,” it noted.
“The PRC authorities appear to have broad discretion to value a wide range of documents, data, statistics or materials as state secrets and to detain and prosecute foreign nationals for alleged espionage,” the official message said.
The text listed a long series of possible infractions, such as participating in demonstrations, sending messages critical of Chinese policies or simply investigating areas considered sensitive.
Bans on leaving the country could be used to force people to participate in government investigations, pressure relatives to return from abroad, settle civil disputes in favor of Chinese nationals, and “gain bargaining power over foreign governments,” the warning added. .
Similar warnings were issued for the Chinese semi-autonomous regions of Hong Kong and Macao. They were dated Friday, although they were sent to journalists on Monday.
China often responds with outrage to what it perceives as efforts by the United States to challenge its authoritarian system, led by the Communist Party. It has issued its own travel advisories in relation to the United States, warning of the danger of crime, discrimination against Asians and the high cost of medical care.
Relations between the two countries are at their lowest point in years due to disputes over trade, technology, Taiwan and human rights, although the two sides have taken some steps to improve the situation. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Beijing last week on a long-delayed visit, while Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is due to make a long-awaited trip to Beijing this week. China also recently appointed a new ambassador to Washington, who presented his credentials in a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House.
FUENTE: With information from AP
