US government employees banned from relationships with Chinese citizens: AP

• A new report from The Associated Press says the federal government has banned U.S. government personnel in China from having romantic or sexual relationships with Chinese citizens. The government’s definition of those relationships is unclear.
• The new rule will impact government personnel’s families and contractors with security clearances as well.
• The Biden administration implemented a limited version of the policy last summer.

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The Trump administration has reportedly banned American government personnel in China, as well as their family members and contractors with security clearances, from being in romantic or sexual relationships with Chinese citizens.

What’s the new policy?

According to The Associated Press, the policy was put into effect by departing U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns in January, not long before he left China.

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The AP reports this information came from four different people with direct knowledge of the matter who would only speak on the condition of anonymity.

The history of these policies

While some U.S. agencies already have strict rules when it comes to such relationships, the AP reports a blanket non-fraternization policy like this has not been heard of publicly since the Cold War.

A limited version of the policy was put into place last summer under the Biden administration. It prohibited U.S. personnel from romantic and sexual relations with Chinese citizens working as guards and other support staff at the U.S. Embassy, as well as five consulates in China.

A specific definition of what constitutes a “romantic or sexual relationship” has not been made clear.

Will this impact US personnel in the states?

According to the AP, this new policy pertains to missions in mainland China and the U.S. Consulate in the semi-autonomous territory of Hong Kong.

It does not apply to U.S. personnel stationed outside China.