SEATTLE – In an official advisory that has escalated cross-border travel tensions, Chinese government authorities have warned Chinese travelers to exercise extreme caution and avoid entering the United States through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, citing repeated allegations of harassment by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers against Chinese visitors.
The latest triggering incident, detailed in a public post on X (formerly Twitter) from China’s Consular Affairs division, involved a group of around 20 Chinese academics holding valid U.S. visas who were traveling to the U.S. to attend an academic conference. Upon arrival at the Seattle airport, all of these scholars were subjected to what the Chinese agency described as “unreasonable inspections” by CBP personnel, and were ultimately barred from entering the country.
Following the release of the advisory, multiple media outlets sent information requests and inquiries for comment to relevant parties on Thursday, including CBP’s national spokesperson, the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C., and the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco. As of the latest update, no official responses have been issued to address the claims.
In its public statement, China’s foreign ministry and diplomatic missions in the U.S. emphasized that incidents of targeted harassment against Chinese scholars at the Seattle port of entry have been continuous. The agencies urged all Chinese citizens planning travel to the United States to prioritize their personal safety and security, and strongly advised rerouting away from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for entry.
Beyond the warning to avoid the Seattle entry point, Chinese officials also urged prospective Chinese travelers to thoroughly familiarize themselves with all U.S. entry regulations and prepare necessary documentation in advance to mitigate potential disruptions. A translated excerpt from the advisory notes, “If you face questioning from U.S. law enforcement personnel, you should remain calm and respond in a rational manner.”
Demographic data from Pew Research Center collected in 2019 shows that the greater Seattle metropolitan area is home to one of the largest Chinese-American communities in the U.S., ranking sixth nationally with an estimated 166,000 Chinese residents in the region.