In brief
The Chinese government has issued a warning to its citizens about traveling to the U.S. through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, highlighting a trend of harassment from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Following an incident involving scholars facing undue inspection, officials advised potential travelers to be aware of U.S. entry regulations and to approach any questioning from enforcement personnel with calmness.
SEATTLE (AP) — In a significant advisory, the Chinese government is urging its citizens to reconsider their travel plans and avoid entering the United States via Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. This caution comes in response to reported cases of harassment faced by Chinese scholars at the airport by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials. Recently, approximately 20 Chinese scholars arrived at the airport to attend an academic conference, only to find themselves undergoing what China's Consular Affairs termed 'unreasonable inspections' and were ultimately denied entry. Following these incidents, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has recommended that Chinese travelers approach plans to visit the U.S. with a heightened sense of security and has explicitly advised steering clear of Seattle's airport. In addition, they emphasized the importance of familiarizing oneself with U.S. entry regulations and being ready to address any questioning from U.S. enforcement personnel with composure. The warning arrives against the backdrop of Seattle being one of the top U.S. metro areas with a significant Chinese population, home to approximately 166,000 residents as of 2019.
