Last updated:
Us China News: The US has implemented a policy in China to prevent its diplomats and their families from having romantic or sexual relations with Chinese citizens. This policy is made due to the dangers of espionage.
Highlights
- The US implemented a new policy for diplomats in China.
- The policy is made due to the dangers of espionage.
- The policy applies to all Chinese citizens.
Washington. The US has implemented a policy to prevent its diplomats, their family and security related contractors from having romantic or sexual relations with Chinese citizens in China. The directive was implemented in January 2025 by former US Ambassador Nicolas Burns and applies to the US Embassy in Beijing and the consulate employees in the Gwangzhu, Shanghai, Sheenyang, Wuhan and Hong Kong. This policy is made due to increasing dangers of espionage, especially due to the possibility of Chinese intelligence agencies to reach sensitive information using personal relations, often called “Honeypot” taxics.
In the US, the concerns of Chinese intelligence agencies using Honey Trap were revealed when AXIOS reported in 2020 that a suspected Chinese agent, Fong Fong (also known as Christine Fong), formed a relationship with American politicians, including the then Congress member Eric Swallvel. However, no evidence of espionage was found.
Nevertheless, Fong’s fundraging and networking efforts played an alarm about the possible honeytrap strategy targeting emerging political personalities. Earlier, American employees needed to report intimate contacts with Chinese citizens, and some agencies had restrictions, but such a blanket ban (blanket ban) has not been seen since the policies of the Cold War-era which targeted Soviet and Chinese citizens.
Last year, a limited edition of the summer rules banned relations with Chinese citizens working as assistant employees in American missions. According to the article by Anil Khosla published in the Eurasian Times, the new policy of ‘Blanketa Ban’ implements it to all Chinese citizens in China, although exemption for already existing relations can be requested. If the request is rejected, the person concerned will either have to end the relationship or leave his post. Those who violate the rule will be immediately removed from China, which may increase tension in America-China relations.
