An official working at the United States Patent and Trademark Office was not allowed to leave China after traveling there on a personal trip. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
This incident is one of the recent events where China has obstructed U.S. citizens from leaving the country for various reasons. The U.S. State Department has stated that it is closely monitoring this issue and is in negotiations with the Chinese government.
The department's statement mentioned that the safety and freedom of U.S. citizens is one of the top priorities. The Chinese government sometimes imposes exit bans on individuals related to investigations or business disputes.
However, international observers often assess these measures as a means of political pressure. The bans affect not only Chinese citizens but also foreigners.
The increase in similar incidents prompted the U.S. government to advise its citizens to exercise caution when traveling to China in 2024. This warning was eased after three U.S. citizens were released following prolonged detention in November 2024.
Additionally, representatives of the private sector have also been subjected to bans. For example, Chenyue Mao, an employee of Wells Fargo living in the U.S., was forced to remain in China.
This situation led the bank to halt all business trips to China. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiaku stated that Mao is being investigated in a criminal case and that the exit ban was applied in accordance with existing laws.
Officials referred to this situation as a personal legal case. No comments were made regarding the case involving the U.S. government official.
Guo Jiaku only emphasized that China is ensuring the rule of law and conducting entry-exit operations based on the law
