China lodges solemn representations with U.S. over harassment of Chinese visitors

China has lodged solemn representations with the U.S. in response to multiple incidents of unwarranted interrogation faced by Chinese students, company employees and other personnel upon their entry into the U.S., the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on its official WeChat account on Friday. People planning to travel to the U.S. should be aware of such unexpected situations, the ministry said.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, several Chinese students and company employees have encountered unwarranted interrogation and harassment by U.S. law enforcement personnel upon their arrival at airports in the U.S.. For instance, their electronic devices such as cellphones and computers, were thoroughly inspected item by item. Several people were even denied entry and sent back to China.

In January, several Chinese students were subjected to unwarranted interrogations and harassment upon their arrival at Washington Dulles International Airport. Their visas were subsequently revoked and they were deported back to China.

According to the Chinese Embassy in the U.S., the students all held valid documents and were returning to the U.S. after vacations, or arriving for their first semester. At the airport, they were subjected to prolonged questioning, in addition to their electronic devices being inspected. Some were detained for more than 10 hours, during which they were prohibited from contacting anyone outside.

According to a report from news portal Sina News Onsite in January, there is a high risk that people studying abroad through the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and postgraduates or PhD candidates in science and engineering majors will be subjected to unwarranted interrogations, also known as secondary inspection.

In March, the Washington Post published a special report based on interviews with six Chinese students and two visiting scholars who had been unreasonably harassed, interrogated, and deported without just cause, which received a lot of attention in the U.S.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in its statement on Friday that the ministry and the Chinese embassy and consulates in the U.S. have lodged solemn representations with the U.S. side.

Meanwhile, the ministry reminded individuals planning to travel to the U.S. to be aware of various unexpected situations that they may encounter. If they need any assistance, they should promptly contact the Chinese embassy and consulates in the U.S.