The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China launched a travel alert to the United States, mainly for security reasons, due to the recent shootings and robberies, as well as the harassment of the authorities, in full escalation of the commercial tension between both nations.
Therefore, the ministry recommends that Chinese citizens exercise extreme caution if they travel to the U.S. and, in case of emergency, contact the Chinese embassy in Washington for help.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry and the US embassy also warned that Chinese individuals and organizations have been the recent target of several authorities, suggesting that there has been an increase in Chinese citizens being harassed by various means.
The companies operating in the United States were also warned that they could face harassment by US law enforcement agencies.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang, told reporters that the warning was prompted by the difficulties that Chinese citizens are experiencing during their stay in the United States.
As to whether the measure was part of the protracted trade dispute, Geng said it was a response to the "current circumstances."
The new warning comes a day after the Chinese Ministry of Education alerted its students against going to the United States due to the increase in denials and visa delays.
Chinese state television, quoting the Ministry of Education, reported that some students seeking to study in the United States have had problems with their visa applications recently.
The Ministry of Education reminds students and academics of the need to strengthen risk assessment before studying abroad, improve awareness of prevention and make the corresponding preparations.
In 2018, the number of Chinese visitors in the United States decreased to three million, compared to 3.2 million a year earlier, according to the National Office of Travel and Tourism of the giant Asian.
