US issues new warning for China travel

By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON (AA) - The U.S. on Thursday warned travelers to "exercise increased caution" when in China.

The State Department raised the travel advisory to "Level 2" because China has been using exit bans to stop American citizens from leaving the country.

According to the travel warning, these exit bans are used by Chinese authorities to coerce U.S. citizens into participating in government investigations, to bring back individuals to China from abroad and to help Chinese authorities in resolving civil disputes "in favor of Chinese parties."

"U.S. citizens may be detained without access to U.S. consular services or information about their alleged crime. U.S. citizens may be subjected to prolonged interrogations and extended detention for reasons related to 'state security,'" the advisory added.

The Level 2 warning is one degree higher than a Level 1, which asks travelers to exercise normal precautions. A Level 3 travel warning advises people to reconsider their travel, while a Level 4 warning says, "Do not travel."

Last week, the State Department also issued a Level 2 travel warning to Myanmar, citing areas of "civil unrest and armed conflict."

The U.S. has given Level 2 travel warnings to nearly 60 countries since last January.