- By Priyanka Koul
- Thu, 03 Apr 2025 12:13 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The US government has introduced a strict ban preventing American government personnel stationed in China including their family members and contractors with security clearances from engaging in romantic or sexual relationships with Chinese citizens. This decision, first reported by news agency AP, aims to enhance security measures.
The ban was implemented in January by outgoing US Ambassador Nicholas Burns, just before he left China. Sources familiar with the matter, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed this development. While some US agencies have long enforced strict rules regarding relationships with foreign nationals, a blanket "non-fraternisation" policy of this scale has not been publicly enforced since the Cold War. Notably, in many other countries, American diplomats are allowed to date and even marry locals.
An earlier version of this policy was introduced last summer, restricting US personnel from engaging in romantic or sexual relationships with Chinese citizens employed as guards or support staff at the US Embassy and consulates. However, just days before Trump assumed office, the ban was expanded to prohibit relationships with any Chinese citizen in China.
Affected US Diplomatic Missions
The new rule applies to all US diplomatic posts in mainland China, including the embassy in Beijing and consulates in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Wuhan. The restriction also extends to the US consulate in Hong Kong, despite its semi-autonomous status.
US personnel who were already in relationships with Chinese citizens before the ban took effect can apply for exemptions. However, if their exemption requests are denied, they must choose between ending the relationship or leaving their position, according to AP reports.
Employees stationed in China were informed of the policy through verbal and electronic communication in January, though an official public announcement is still pending. Previously, US personnel in China were only required to report any intimate interactions with Chinese citizens but were not explicitly prohibited from forming romantic relationships.
The US government has a history of enforcing strict relationship policies in countries considered high-risk for intelligence threats. According to declassified State Department documents, a similar ban was imposed in 1987 after a US Marine in Moscow was seduced by a Soviet spy.
Intelligence agencies worldwide have long used "honeypot" tactics where attractive individuals attempt to extract sensitive information—to compromise foreign officials, particularly during the Cold War.
US intelligence experts believe that China continues to employ such methods to gain access to American secrets. Officials assigned to China receive pre-deployment briefings on past cases where Chinese intelligence agencies used seduction tactics against American diplomats. They are also informed that multiple Chinese state security agents may be tasked with monitoring any diplomat of interest.