A U.S. Patent and Trademark Office employee, part of the Department of Commerce, has been prevented from leaving China after traveling there for personal reasons.
The individual, a Chinese-American, reportedly failed to disclose their U.S. government employment on a visa application.
According to The Washington Post, the employee traveled to China several months ago to visit family and has been under an exit ban since April, initially in Chengdu, Sichuan.
The U.S. State Department confirmed the situation, stating, “We are tracking this case very closely and are engaged with Chinese officials to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.”
The employee’s identity and current status remain undisclosed.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, addressed the issue, saying, “China is a country ruled by law, and all matters concerning entry and exit are handled according to the law.”
He provided no specific details on the case.
This incident follows a similar case involving Chenyue Mao, a U.S. citizen and Wells Fargo banker, also barred from leaving China due to an unspecified criminal investigation.
Beijing’s use of exit bans, often linked to civil disputes, regulatory enforcement, or criminal probes, has been criticized as a tool for diplomatic leverage.
The U.S. and China continue to navigate tensions over issues like trade and national security, with this case highlighting the risks for Americans traveling to China.