Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
The U.S. government has enacted a sweeping ban on romantic or sexual relationships between American government personnel and Chinese citizens in China, an unprecedented move not seen publicly since the Cold War, The Associated Press reported.
Four individuals with direct knowledge of the new rules confirmed to the AP that the policy took effect in January, shortly before U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns left his post in Beijing. It applies to all American diplomatic staff, family members, and contractors with security clearances stationed at U.S. facilities in mainland China and Hong Kong.
The directive expands on a more limited policy put in place last summer that barred relationships between U.S. personnel and Chinese support staff such as guards. The broadened rule prohibits intimate relationships with any Chinese national while in China, the AP reported.
Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Embassy in Beijing for comment. The State Department said it does not comment on internal matters.
Burns, now vice chair at the consultancy The Cohen Group, did not respond to AP’s request for comment.
Uniformed and plainclothes security officers stand guard outside the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, Aug. 3, 2022. Uniformed and plainclothes security officers stand guard outside the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, Aug. 3, 2022. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File
Why It Matters
The policy reflects intensifying concerns in Washington over espionage and influence operations tied to China’s intelligence services. It revives Cold War-era restrictions once common during U.S.-Soviet tensions, signaling a return to heightened vigilance against foreign recruitment tactics.
Though some agencies have historically required disclosure of intimate relationships in high-risk postings, a categorical non-fraternization order in a country as geopolitically significant as China marks a rare step.
The directive also demonstrates growing unease among lawmakers. Two sources told AP the idea gained traction after members of Congress urged stricter rules, citing espionage vulnerabilities. The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party declined to comment.
What To Know
The policy applies to all U.S. diplomatic missions in mainland China—including Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Wuhan—as well as the consulate in Hong Kong. It does not cover personnel stationed outside Chinese territory.
Anyone with a pre-existing relationship with a Chinese citizen may seek an exemption. Denied applications mean ending the relationship or vacating the assignment. Violators face immediate expulsion from China, sources said.
Details of what constitutes a
US Bans Sex Between Personnel and Chinese Citizens in China: Report
