On January 3, 2019, the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs updated the Travel Advisory for China with new language. As with the previous Travel Advisory, China remains a Level 2 country (Exercise increased caution). The complete Travel Advisory can be found on the Bureau of Diplomatic Security Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) website.
Below are critical notes regarding the update from UNL’s Director of Global Safety and Security, Dave Long:
- China remains a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. In general, this means: “Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory.”
- Per their website, Consular Affairs typically updates Travel Advisories for Level 1 and Level 2 countries every 12 months at a minimum, but may review them sooner as circumstances dictate. Because the last Travel Advisory was issued in January 2018, a review/re-issuance would have been conducted around this time regardless of recent developments. In other words, it is important to not conflate the timing of this Travel Advisory with a substantial change in the overall security environment.
- Many of the themes highlighted in the January 2019 Travel Advisory–such as exit bans, difficulty obtaining consular services in the event of arrest, prolonged detentions and interrogations for reasons related to “state security,” and special restrictions on dual U.S.-Chinese nationals–were also included in the January 2018 iteration.
- One new addition appears to be the explicit mention of security checks, increased police presence, and curfews in Tibet and Xinjiang. Those concerns, however, have long been identified in the China Country Information Page and the OSAC China Crime and Safety Reports.
It is important to recognize that while traveling internationally, your right to privacy—including on personal devices—is not guaranteed. Information, either posted online or maintained on devices, has been used to deny entry or exit, harass, detain, and arrest travelers in numerous countries. Please practice vigilance regarding the information you post online or travel with, as it may be viewed as provocative in a foreign context. Furthermore, always ensure compliance with UNL’s Export Control when traveling internationally.
Those interested in comparing the 2019 advisory to the previous iteration (January 2018) of the China Travel Advisory can view it on the OSAC website archives. If you have any questions regarding travel risk management concerns, please reach out to the Director of Global Safety and Security, Dave Long at dlong@unl.edu.