In brief
The Chinese government has issued a warning to travelers considering entry into the United States through Seattle, citing a pattern of harassment at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. This caution follows an incident where a group of Chinese scholars faced unreasonable inspections and were denied entry while attending an academic conference. The foreign ministry encourages travelers to familiarize themselves with U.S. entry regulations and maintain a calm demeanor if approached by border enforcement.
SEATTLE (AP) — In the wake of troubling incidents involving Chinese nationals at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the Chinese government has officially advised its citizens to avoid traveling through the facility. Authorities cite a troubling recurring issue of harassment by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel. Recently, approximately 20 Chinese scholars traveling with valid visas were subjected to what the Chinese Consular Affairs termed 'unreasonable inspections' by CBP and were subsequently denied entry into the U.S.In response to these events, the Chinese foreign ministry has urged travelers to approach their journey to the United States with heightened caution, explicitly recommending avoidance of the Seattle airport. This directive aligns with their ongoing concerns surrounding the treatment of Chinese citizens by U.S. enforcement agencies. The post on X highlights both the need for safety awareness and preparedness with U.S. entry regulations.In light of these incidents, the ministry has advised travelers from China to handle any questioning from officials calmly and rationally, as they navigate entry into the United States. Notably, Seattle is home to a significant population of Chinese residents, ranking as the sixth largest metropolitan area in the U.S. for its Chinese community as reported by the Pew Research Center in 2019.
