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U.S. Enforces Ban on Relationships Between Staff in China and Chinese Citizens

The directive, introduced in January by former Ambassador Nicholas Burns, reflects growing espionage concerns and intensifying U.S.-China tensions.

In this picture taken on December 10, 2021, a man visits the US embassy in Beijing. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP) (Photo by JADE GAO/AFP via Getty Images)
FILE - Uniformed and plainclothes security officers stand guard outside the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, Aug. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
People walk by workers dressed in Qing Dynasty costumes, one of them holding a fan to attract customers outside a merchandise shop, in Beijing.

Overview

  • The U.S. government has prohibited all romantic or sexual relationships between its personnel in China and Chinese citizens, including diplomats, family members, and contractors with security clearances.
  • The policy, implemented in January 2025, expands on a 2024 directive that limited such restrictions to Chinese citizens employed as support staff or guards at U.S. diplomatic facilities.
  • Violators face immediate expulsion from China, while personnel in pre-existing relationships must apply for exemptions or end the relationship if denied.
  • The directive, communicated internally and not publicly announced, cites concerns over espionage tactics such as 'honeypot' operations by Chinese intelligence.
  • Similar restrictions exist within China's government, which bars its personnel from romantic involvement with foreign nationals to mitigate security risks.