U.S. issues sweeping travel warning for China, Hong Kong

The U.S. on Tuesday BEIJING— issued a sweeping new advisory warning against travel to mainland China and Hong Kong, citing the risk of “arbitrary detention” and “arbitrary enforcement of local laws.”

The advisory is likely to heighten tensions between the sides that have spiked since Beijing’s imposition onHongKong of a strict new national security lawin June that has already been met with a series of U.S. punitive actions.

ThestatementwarnedU.S. citizens that China imposes “arbitrary detention and exit bans” to compel cooperation with investigations, pressure family members to return to China fromabroad, influence civil disputes and “gain bargaining leverage over foreign governments.”

“U.S. citizens traveling or residing in China or Hong Kong, may be detained without access to U.S. consular servicesorinformationabout their alleged crime. U.S. citizens may be subjected to prolonged interrogations andextendeddetentionwithout due process of law,” the advisory said.

InHongKong, China “unilaterally and arbitrarily exercises police and security power,” the advisory said, adding that new legislation also covers offenses committed by non-Hong Kong residents or organizations outside of Hong Kong, possibly subjecting U.S. citizens who have publicly criticized China to a “heightened risk of arrest, detention, expulsion, or prosecution.”

When in Hong Kong, U.S. citizens are “strongly cautioned to be aware of their surroundings and avoid demonstrations,” the advisory said.