A report highlights that US Department of Commerce staff members traveling to China to visit family find themselves unable to leave, as their employment details are seen as a potential risk.
According to sources familiar with the situation, noted in the Washington Post, a Chinese-American individual remains in this predicament due to China’s contentious policies regarding foreign personnel.
This individual reportedly works at the Patent and Trademark Office, which is part of the Department of Commerce.
The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is tasked with issuing patents and registered trademarks, as stated on its official site.
It has been reported that individuals are essentially being “patriated” under the terms of China’s so-called “exit ban.”
Currently, tensions between the US and China complicate matters, and the practice of imposing exit bans on American citizens has been a longstanding issue affecting diplomatic relations.
This development arises during a fraught period for US-China relations, where trade disputes and ongoing geopolitical strife are prominent. Even so, President Trump has spoken positively about Chinese President Xi Jinping, suggesting that his administration’s stance, despite its confrontational aspects, is conducted “in a very friendly way.”
The implementation of exit bans by China against Americans has previously been a focal point of discussions among senior US diplomats and their Chinese counterparts.
Notably, Breitbart News reported that Wells Fargo has restricted travel to China for its employees after a ban affected Chenyue Mao, an American citizen of Shanghai origin and managing director at the bank.
The State Department is said to have refrained from engaging with legal actions surrounding these cases, yet they emphasized their awareness of the situation and raised concerns with Chinese officials.
In a statement, the State Department noted, “We have closely tracked these cases and expressed our concerns to Chinese authorities regarding the welfare of our citizens and the ramifications of these arbitrary exit bans on our bilateral relations, urging for the prompt return of affected US citizens.”
Breitbart News reached out to the State Department for additional comments but did not receive a response by the time of publishing.
