In brief
The Chinese government has issued a warning to travelers, advising them to avoid entry into the U.S. through Seattle due to ongoing harassment of Chinese scholars by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel. After reports of unreasonable inspections and refusals of entry for roughly 20 Chinese scholars at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the Foreign Ministry has called on citizens to prioritize safety while traveling and familiarize themselves with U.S. entry regulations. Seattle, which houses a significant Chinese population, has become a focal point for growing tensions over the treatment of Chinese nationals at U.S. entry points.
SEATTLE (AP) — Chinese government officials are advising travelers to reconsider entering the United States through Seattle, highlighting a troubling trend of harassment experienced by their nationals at the hands of U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel.Recently, around 20 Chinese scholars holding visas arrived at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to attend an academic conference, but were subjected to what the Chinese Consular Affairs described as 'unreasonable' inspections and subsequently denied entry.In light of these ongoing incidents, the Chinese Foreign Ministry and its embassy in the U.S. have recommended that citizens with plans to visit the U.S. adopt a cautious approach, particularly concerning travel through Seattle. They emphasized the importance of being well-informed about U.S. entry regulations and remaining calm if faced with questioning from U.S. enforcement officials.Seattle is noteworthy for its significant Chinese population, ranking as the sixth largest metro area in the nation by Chinese residents, with approximately 166,000 individuals as of 2019, according to the Pew Research Center.}
