From September 22, 2008 CA Travel

SAFETY AND SECURITY:  Americans visiting or residing in China are advised to take routine safety precautions; that is, travelers should remain aware of their surroundings and of events happening around them.  Travelers should respect local police requirements to avoid travel in some areas.  In light of the greatly increased numbers of older Americans traveling to China, Americans should verify with U.S. tour operators that local guides being used are familiar with medical facilities and emergency medical evacuation procedures.

Read on for more about: gas appliances, security presonnel, communication monitoring by Chinese govt, taking photos, terrorism, business disputes, violence, detaining of American citizens, schemes, and latest security information.

American citizens who rent apartments with gas appliances should be aware that, in some areas, natural gas is not scented to warn occupants of gas leaks or concentrations.  In addition, heaters may not always be well vented, thereby allowing excess carbon monoxide to build up in living spaces.  Due to fatal accidents involving American citizens, travelers are advised to ensure all gas appliances are properly vented or to install gas and carbon monoxide detectors in their residences.  These devices are not widely available in China and should be purchased prior to arrival.

Security personnel may at times place foreign visitors under surveillance.  Hotel rooms, telephones, and fax machines may be monitored, and personal possessions in hotel rooms, including computers, may be searched without the consent or knowledge of the traveler.  Taking photographs of anything that could be perceived as being of military or security interest may result in problems with authorities. Foreign government officials, journalists, and business people with access to advanced proprietary technology are particularly likely to be under surveillance.

Terrorism is rare in China, although a small number of bombings have occurred in areas throughout China.  Recent bombings have generally been criminal in nature, frequently the result of commercial disputes.  The vast majority of these local incidents related to disputes over land seizures, social issues or environmental problems.  While some incidents have grown to larger scales and involved some violence, these incidents have not been directed against foreigners.

Business disputes in China are not always handled through the courts.  Sometimes the foreign partner has been held hostage, threatened with violence, or beaten up.  Anyone entering into a contract in China should have it thoroughly examined, both in the United States and in China.  Contracts entered into in the United States are not enforced by Chinese courts. Care should also be taken when entering into a lease for an apartment or house.  There have been instances of foreigners being ejected from their apartments because of lease disputes, and being prevented from re-entering, even to retrieve their belongings. 

Americans doing business in China should be aware that if they become involved in a business and/or civil dispute, the Chinese government may prohibit them from leaving China until the matter is resolved.  Civil cases may sometimes be regarded as criminal cases and the defendant may be placed in custody.  Civil law disputes may take years to resolve.  There are many cases of American citizens being prevented from leaving China for months and even years while their civil cases are resolved.

U.S. citizens and business owners should be aware that many intending migrants from China will try to enlist their assistance to secure a U.S. visa.  In one common scheme, a PRC national contacts a U.S. business feigning interest in a particular product or service.  The PRC national then asks for a formal letter from the U.S. company inviting him or her (alone or with colleagues) to come to the United States to discuss or finalize a purchase, or establish formal cooperation between the two companies. The PRC national will then use the invitation letter when he or she applies for a U.S. visa to show he/ she has a legitimate purpose of travel.  While many such requests may be legitimate, some are not. Oftentimes, the PRC national initiating the contact has no relationship to his/her claimed Chinese employer.  In fact, it is not unusual for these individuals to be part of elaborate human smuggling syndicates.  Visa Sections at the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China are regularly contacted by U.S. businesses that unwittingly have been used to facilitate illicit migration schemes.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution, can be found.

Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas.  For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.

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