July 21, 2025, 2:48 p.m. ET - An employee from the U.S. Commerce Department has found himself at the center of a significant incident involving Chinese intelligence. The American citizen, whom the U.S. government has not formally identified, has been subjected to an "exit ban" imposed by Chinese authorities since mid-April. This practice, known for intimidating foreign citizens, has notably characterized the relationship between China and numerous western nations.
According to a recently obtained document from the State Department, the man was interrogated by officers from China’s Ministry of State Security, which handles intelligence and counterintelligence matters, while he was visiting family in Chengdu. The interrogation focused on his past military service with the U.S. Army.
On April 14, the Chinese officials confiscated his passport, credit card, cellphone, and iPad as part of their operations. While they returned his passport a week later, they imposed a travel restriction on him, barring him from leaving the country. The employee’s wife remains in the United States, adding a layer of personal distress to the situation.
U.S. diplomats have been actively pursuing the case, with efforts to extract the individual from Chengdu to Beijing gaining momentum in early May. However, the surveillance and pressures exerted by the Chinese authorities continue to pose significant challenges.
The news of the man's plight only surfaced publicly over the past weekend, drawing substantial media attention. The obtained State Department cable offers a chilling glimpse into the precarious world of international diplomacy and the lingering threat posed by China's stringent security practices.
According to a recently obtained document from the State Department, the man was interrogated by officers from China’s Ministry of State Security, which handles intelligence and counterintelligence matters, while he was visiting family in Chengdu. The interrogation focused on his past military service with the U.S. Army.
On April 14, the Chinese officials confiscated his passport, credit card, cellphone, and iPad as part of their operations. While they returned his passport a week later, they imposed a travel restriction on him, barring him from leaving the country. The employee’s wife remains in the United States, adding a layer of personal distress to the situation.
U.S. diplomats have been actively pursuing the case, with efforts to extract the individual from Chengdu to Beijing gaining momentum in early May. However, the surveillance and pressures exerted by the Chinese authorities continue to pose significant challenges.
The news of the man's plight only surfaced publicly over the past weekend, drawing substantial media attention. The obtained State Department cable offers a chilling glimpse into the precarious world of international diplomacy and the lingering threat posed by China's stringent security practices.
