U.S. Commerce Employee Under Exit Ban in China: A Deepening Diplomatic Tension

A U.S. Commerce Department employee has been prevented from leaving China since mid-April, following multiple interrogations by Chinese officers regarding his military service. This incident highlights the ongoing practice of "exit bans" used by the Chinese government, creating further strain on U.S.-China diplomatic relations.

A U.S. Commerce Department employee, an American citizen, is currently barred from leaving China after facing extensive questioning from Chinese intelligence officers regarding his military history. The situation has been described in a recently obtained State Department cable by The New York Times, providing insights into this troubling instance of diplomatic strain.

The individual was tracked by Chinese officers since early this spring while visiting family in southwestern China. The officers, operatives from the Ministry of State Security—China's main intelligence body—interrogated him about his service in the U.S. military and confiscated his passport along with personal belongings, including his credit and communication devices. Although they returned his passport a few days later, they informed him he was not allowed to depart the country. His wife remains in the United States during this stressful ordeal.

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing has been actively managing the situation, including attempting to transfer the employee back to Beijing as the surveillance from Chinese authorities continued. The cable, dated May 2, underscores escalating tensions and the aggressive tactics employed by the Chinese government against American nationals, particularly those with military backgrounds. The plight of the Commerce employee became public over the weekend, drawing attention to the broader implications for U.S.-China relations as more media coverage unfolds.