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News18
6 hours ago
- Business
- News18
US govt employee banned from leaving China
Agency: PTI Washington, Jul 22 (AP) A US government employee has been banned from leaving China after travelling there in a personal capacity, the State Department said Tuesday, marking the latest case where Beijing has stopped US nationals from departing the country. The State Department did not reveal the identity of the employee at the US Patent and Trademark Office, which is part of the Commerce Department, but said it is 'tracking this case very closely" and that it is engaged with Chinese officials to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. 'The Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens," it said. The Chinese government restricts people from leaving the country if they are involved in investigations, including business disputes, but it has been accused of using the tool to arbitrarily keep both Chinese and foreign nationals in the country. China's use of the exit ban and other concerns previously prompted the State Department to tell Americans to reconsider travel to China. The travel advisory was only eased in November after China released three US citizens who were detained for years. It's one of the latest instances of such travel restrictions. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Chenyue Mao, a US-based Wells Fargo banker, was blocked from leaving China, prompting the bank to suspend all travel to the country. Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said Mao is 'involved in a criminal case currently being handled by Chinese law-enforcement authorities" and that she is 'subject to exit restrictions in accordance with the law". 'Let me stress that it is an individual judicial case," Guo said. 'China will as always welcome people from all countries to travel and do business in China and ensure their rights and interests in accordance with the law." Asked about the case involving the US government employee, Guo said: 'I have no details to share. China upholds the rule of law and handles entry and exit affairs in accordance with the law." Other Americans have faced China's exit ban. Two American siblings were only allowed to leave China in 2021 after they were stranded there for three years after visiting their relatives. (AP) SCY SCY (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Winnipeg Free Press
7 hours ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
US government employee banned from leaving China
WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. government employee has been banned from leaving China after traveling there in a personal capacity, the State Department said Tuesday, marking the latest case where Beijing has stopped U.S. nationals from departing the country. The State Department did not reveal the identity of the employee at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which is part of the Commerce Department, but said it is 'tracking this case very closely' and that it is engaged with Chinese officials to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. 'The Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens,' it said. FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping attends an event at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File) The Chinese government restricts people from leaving the country if they are involved in investigations, including business disputes, but it has been accused of using the tool to arbitrarily keep both Chinese and foreign nationals in the country. China's use of the exit ban and other concerns previously prompted the State Department to tell Americans to reconsider travel to China. The travel advisory was only eased in November after China released three U.S. citizens who were detained for years. It's one of the latest instances of such travel restrictions. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Chenyue Mao, a U.S.-based Wells Fargo banker, was blocked from leaving China, prompting the bank to suspend all travel to the country. Citing 'privacy and other considerations,' the State Department did not comment on Mao's case. Wells Fargo said Tuesday that it is 'closely tracking this situation and working through the appropriate channels so our employee can return to the United States as soon as possible.' Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said Mao is 'involved in a criminal case currently being handled by Chinese law-enforcement authorities' and that she is 'subject to exit restrictions in accordance with the law.' 'Let me stress that it is an individual judicial case,' Guo said. 'China will as always welcome people from all countries to travel and do business in China and ensure their rights and interests in accordance with the law.' Asked about the case involving the U.S. government employee, Guo said: 'I have no details to share. China upholds the rule of law and handles entry and exit affairs in accordance with the law.' Other Americans have faced China's exit ban. Two American siblings were only allowed to leave China in 2021 after they were stranded there for three years after visiting their relatives.
Business Times
a day ago
- Business
- Business Times
China says Wells Fargo banker ‘involved' in criminal case
[BEIJING] China said the case of a Wells Fargo banker blocked from leaving the country was related to a criminal matter, escalating an episode that already underscored global firms' fears about operating in the nation. 'Mao Chenyue is involved in a criminal case currently being handled by Chinese law-enforcement authorities and is subject to exit restrictions in accordance with the law,' Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Monday (Jul 21). He added that it was 'an individual judicial case' but did not provide details. 'Pursuant to China's laws, with the case still under investigation, Mao cannot leave the country for the time being and has the obligation to cooperate with the investigation pursuant to Chinese laws,' Guo said. 'We will protect her lawful rights and interests through an investigation.' While the nature of the case is unclear, the incident risks further undermining the confidence of foreign institutions on doing business in the world's second-largest economy. Global banks have over the past few years scaled back their presence in China as economic growth has slowed and political tension, most notably with the US over trade, increased. 'What we encourage China to do is to shed light on these cases so companies and individuals can assess their own risk for being subject to an exit ban,' said Sean Stein, president of US-China Business Council. Some of the group's members had reached out to seek more information on the case, he said. 'There will be more concern over time if China doesn't figure out how to shine a light on this.' Mao is fairly high profile in her industry. She was recently elected chair of FCI, a global body for factoring and financing for domestic and international trade. She spearheads Wells Fargo's international factoring business and advises multinational clients on cross-border working-capital strategies, according to FCI. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Well Fargo did not immediately respond to an e-mailed request for comment sent outside of regular business hours in the US. Separately, reports have appeared over the weekend that China has stopped an American citizen who works for the US Commerce Department from leaving the country for several months, an episode that coincides with Beijing and Washington trying to arrange a leaders' summit so they can address their differences on trade. The Chinese-American individual who works for the Patent and Trademark Office had travelled to meet relatives, the Washington Post reported, citing four sources familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing the sensitive issue. Guo, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, said he did not have any information to share about the Commerce Department employee. 'China is a country upholding the rule of law,' Guo said. 'We handle relevant cases in strict accordance with the law.' Wells Fargo recently suspended travel to China after Mao, one of its top trade financing bankers, was prohibited from leaving the country. The Atlanta-based managing director born in Shanghai was banned from departing China after entering in recent weeks, Bloomberg News reported last week, citing a source with knowledge of the situation. The bank has offices in Beijing and Shanghai to manage relationships with local clients in its corporate and investment banking business, as well as local branches in the two cities, according to its website. China's use of exit bans has been a point of contention between Beijing and Washington. The US State Department has repeatedly advised citizens to reconsider travel to China based on what it called the 'arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans'. BLOOMBERG
Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Wells Fargo banker under ban involved in criminal case: China
MIAMI: A Wells Fargo ATM is seen in Miami, Florida. - AFP BEIJING: China's foreign ministry said on Monday that Chenyue Mao, the Wells Fargo banker who has been blocked from leaving the country, was involved in a criminal case and was obliged to cooperate with the investigation. Chinese law enforcement authorities have restricted Mao's exit in accordance with the law, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the ministry, told a regular press briefing. Wells Fargo declined to comment. On Friday, the firm said it was 'working through the appropriate channels' to secure Mao's return to the United States. The US bank suspended all travel to China after Mao's exit ban, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters last week, saying she was a US citizen. It is not known exactly when the ban was imposed. The case was being investigated and Mao was obliged to cooperate with the investigation, Guo said, without elaborating on the case or how and whether the banker was alleged to be involved. 'Everyone in China, whether they are Chinese or foreigners, must abide by Chinese laws,' Guo said, adding that China will protect their legitimate rights and interests in investigations. Beijing has used exit bans on both Chinese and foreign nationals, often in connection with civil disputes, regulatory investigations or criminal investigations. The Wells Fargo exit ban comes as diplomatic and business ties between the US and China remain strained. Experts said it could halt corporate travel to mainland China, especially by Chinese-born people holding foreign passports. Mao was born in Shanghai and based in Atlanta, and is a managing director at Wells Fargo, specializing in the international factoring business. She has been with the bank for 12 years, according to her LinkedIn profile, and two weeks ago was elected chair of FCI, a global organization for factoring and financing for domestic and international trade. Mao leads Wells Fargo's international factoring business, a financing method where companies sell their receivables to third parties, such as banks, in exchange for immediate cash, and advises multinational clients on cross-border working-capital strategies, according to an FCI release. Wells Fargo's China business is much smaller than its Wall Street peer with two branches in Beijing and Shanghai, according to the units' business registration. – Reuters
NDTV
a day ago
- Business
- NDTV
US Bank Employee Barred From Leaving China Over Alleged Criminal Probe
Beijing confirmed Monday that an employee of US bank Wells Fargo was barred from leaving China, following reports last week that Shanghai-born managing director Chenyue Mao was under an exit ban. After multiple media reports, Wells Fargo confirmed last week that it was providing assistance to the Atlanta-based Mao, who entered China in recent weeks but is now unable to leave. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Monday that Mao was "involved in a criminal case currently being investigated by the Chinese authorities". "The Chinese law enforcement agencies have imposed exit restrictions in accordance with the law," Guo said. He did not give details of Mao's alleged offences, and Wells Fargo has not provided more information on her case. But the San Francisco-based bank is now restricting its employees from visiting China following this case, according to reports. It said in a statement to AFP on Friday that it was "closely tracking this situation and working through the appropriate channels so our employee can return to the United States as soon as possible". Wells Fargo declined to comment on China's foreign ministry saying that Mao was involved in a criminal case, when contacted by AFP. Guo said Mao "cannot leave the country while the case is ongoing, and has an obligation to cooperate with the work of investigators". He stressed that it was an "individual case" and that China would "continue as ever to welcome people from every country to travel and do business here". "No matter whether you are Chinese or not, you must follow Chinese laws while in China," he said. - Tensions and detentions - Industry groups say multinational firms have faced an increasingly difficult business environment in recent years, citing a lack of transparency on data laws and prolonged detentions of employees in the country. The trend has coincided with growing tensions between Beijing and certain Western nations, particularly the United States but also regional competitors. The Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing four unnamed sources, that an employee at the US Commerce Department was being prevented from leaving China after failing to declare on his visa application that he worked for the American government. The unnamed Chinese American man, who works for the Patent and Trademark Office, had travelled to China several months ago to visit family, the newspaper reported. Asked about the report on Monday, Guo said he was not familiar with the case. On Wednesday, a Chinese court sentenced a Japanese businessman from pharmaceutical company Astellas to three and a half years in prison for spying. Another pharma giant, UK-headquartered AstraZeneca, said in November that the head of its China operations, Leon Wang, had been detained, after reports that the firm was under investigation for potentially illegal data collection and drug imports. And in 2023, a senior executive at US risk advisory firm Kroll was prohibited from leaving China, according to the Wall Street Journal.
