The US State Department has issued a travel advisory urging Americans to "exercise increased caution" when travelling to the People's Republic of China.
The State Department's elevated travel advisory is out of concern that China may arbitrarily enforce local laws and detain US citizens without cause.
The advisory also indicates that US-Chinese citizens or Americans of Chinese heritage are especially vulnerable to "additional scrutiny and harassment."
"Chinese authorities have asserted broad authority to prohibit US citizens from leaving China by using 'exit bans,' sometimes keeping US citizens in China for years," the State Department said in its advisory.
According to the advisory, China tends to use these exit bans in a coercive manner to "compel US citizens to participate in Chinese government investigations, to lure individuals back to China from abroad, and to aid Chinese authorities in resolving civil disputes in favour of Chinese parties."
In addition, the State Department said Americans find out about these exit bans only when they try to leave China, and they aren't notified how long the bans will last.
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