U.S. Accuses China of Detaining Government Employee, Preventing Departure from the Country

The U.S. State Department announced on Monday that a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office employee, who traveled to China for personal reasons, has been barred from leaving the country. A representative from the State Department confirmed they are closely monitoring the situation and engaged with Chinese authorities to expedite resolution. The identity of the employee and the specifics of their situation, including whether they have been formally detained, have not been released.

Neither the Chinese Embassy in Washington nor the U.S. Department of Commerce provided immediate comments on the matter. According to reports, a U.S. citizen employed by the Commerce Department had visited China months prior to this incident to see family. He was reportedly prevented from leaving due to failing to disclose his government employment on his visa application.

This information was shared by the Washington Post, citing unnamed sources. China is known to employ exit bans against both domestic and foreign individuals in relation to various civil and criminal matters. This practice serves multiple purposes, including stifling local dissent and acting as leverage in diplomatic tensions with other countries.

The ongoing relationship between Washington and Beijing has been fraught with challenges, including disputes over tariffs, Taiwan, and the COVID-19 pandemic. In a similar incident, Chenyue Mao, a banker from Wells Fargo, was also prohibited from exiting China amid claims of her involvement in a criminal investigation. This development has led to Wells Fargo suspending all employee travel to China.

Mao is just one of several foreign corporate executives facing such exit bans in recent times.