U.S. Government Employee Prevented from Leaving China, Says Washington

A United States government employee has been barred from leaving China after traveling there for personal reasons, according to a statement by Washington. The individual, an employee of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (a division under the U.S. Department of Commerce), was reportedly placed under an “exit ban” while in China in a personal capacity. The U.S. Department of State confirmed this on Monday, stating that the safety and security of American citizens remain its highest priority. The Department added that it is closely monitoring the case and is in active contact with Chinese officials to resolve the matter swiftly.

This development follows a report by The Washington Post, which revealed that the individual in question, a Chinese-American man employed by the U.S. Commerce Department, was restricted from leaving China because he failed to disclose his government employment in his visa application. Citing four anonymous sources, the report said the employee had traveled to China several months ago to visit family.

Additionally, The South China Morning Post, based in Hong Kong, reported that the man—now a naturalized U.S. citizen—was detained in April in Chengdu, Sichuan province. His detention was reportedly related to actions that the Chinese authorities deemed a threat to national security. This claim was backed by an anonymous source familiar with the case.

Responding to questions about the incident, Chinese Foreign Ministry official Guo reiterated China’s position that it “upholds the rule of law” and handles immigration-related matters in strict accordance with its legal framework.

Washington’s confirmation of this exit ban comes just after another similar case emerged involving a U.S. citizen. On Monday, Beijing announced that it had blocked the departure of Chenyue Mao, a U.S. citizen and managing director at Wells Fargo, citing her alleged involvement in an unspecified criminal case. She, too, was subject to an exit ban, intensifying concerns about the increasing use of such travel restrictions by Chinese authorities.

These incidents reflect the ongoing tensions between the United States and China, which have frequently accused each other of espionage, surveillance, and interference in domestic affairs. Diplomatic strains have grown in recent years as geopolitical and economic rivalries deepen.

Adding to the tension, the U.S. Department of Justice also announced on Monday that a Chinese-born U.S. researcher, Chenguang Gong, had pleaded guilty to stealing trade secrets. The stolen data included sensitive blueprints for infrared sensors designed to detect nuclear missile launches and track ballistic missiles. Prosecutors revealed that Gong, a dual U.S.-Chinese citizen, had downloaded over 3,600 confidential company files to personal storage devices while working at a Los Angeles-based research and development company.

Before joining the firm, Gong had traveled to China multiple times in an attempt to secure funding for military-related technology development, further raising alarms in Washington. The case underscores growing U.S. concerns about intellectual property theft and national security risks associated with individuals working across both countries.

These events have contributed to increasing friction in U.S.-China relations, highlighting the complex legal, diplomatic, and security challenges facing citizens and companies operating across the two superpowers.