Planning Travel To China? US May Ease Travel Advisory

China is a fascinating and cultural destination – however, there have been tensions between the US and the country for many years. Last June, the State Department issued a Level 3: Reconsider Travel warning, where it still stands right now. Meanwhile, Macau is also on Level 3 status, while Hong Kong is at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. While this can be troubling for travelers, Washington is currently considering changing its stance on travel to China. How does this affect you as a world traveler, who wants to experience other cultures?

State Department might ease travel advisory for China

According to Fodor’s Travel, Kurt Campbell, US Deputy Secretary of State, recently said that communication channels between China and the US have returned to normalcy following past heightened tensions. Campbell said both countries are trying to rebuild people-to-people exchanges, and due to this the State Department is considering relaxing the travel advisories, which have reportedly hindered academic exchanges.

However, there is still one item that the US and China can’t agree on, and that’s the Russia-Ukraine war and Campbell warns that China’s support of Russia could cause a setback.

China v America

Meanwhile, as the State Department warns Americans about visiting China, the Asian country warns its own citizens about US travel. Officials inform travelers that Chinese nationals will face harassment by officials at entry points in the US. However, despite this, students and immigrants still seem to find their way to America.

Currently, the US State Department warns Americans about arbitrary enforcement laws and wrongful detentions in China. They warn that people can be detained or expelled from the country for sending private messages that criticize the government. In this case, travelers could face interrogation and detention without a trial.

Moreover, the People’s Republic of China also uses exit bans to “compel individuals to participate in PRC government investigations; pressure family members of the restricted individual to return to the PRC from abroad; resolve civil disputes in favor of PRC citizens; and gain bargaining leverage over foreign governments.”

In this situation, American travelers could only find out about an exit ban when they try to return home and are not allowed to. Moreover, there is no legal process to contest this.

China and dual citizens

Meanwhile, the US State Department also says that China doesn’t recognize dual citizenship. Anyone who is a US citizen of Chinese descent could be scrutinized and harassed even more. Moreover, in a case like this, the US Embassy in China might not be contacted if an American citizen is arrested in the country.

However, since the pandemic, China is opening up to welcome more tourists after they went through one of the toughest lockdowns in the world. However, even though restrictions have been lifted, travel is slow to recover. Fodor’s quotes a figure of 98.7 million international visitors entering and exiting China in 2019, while in 2023, the figure was a mere 35.6 million.

This year, to boost tourism, China has introduced visa-free entries to 11 European nations, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

Moreover, the country is also offering reciprocal visa exemption deals with Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Meanwhile, China has dropped strict visa requirements, which make it easier for US travelers to enter with no proof of round-trip tickets, hotel bookings or itineraries,

Meanwhile, the US has increased the number of direct flights to China from 35 to 50 so far this year, which is a boon for travelers. Moreover, the country hopes to attract visits by making cashless payments easier, which previously were difficult for international tourists.

Apps that are banned in China

Travelers should also note that many apps, including Gmail and Facebook, are banned in China. To be able to access these, travelers need to use a VPN (virtual private network) to access certain sites.

While a change in travel advisory is being considered by the State Department, the best way to go is to check the travel advisory before booking those tickets.