The U.S. State Department restored its “D” marker for Wrongful Detention in mainland China on October 19, 2026, while keeping the travel advisory at Level 2, “Exercise increased caution.” The D indicator flags risks involving detention by a foreign government.
The advisory warns about arbitrary enforcement, exit bans and unjust arrest or detention. It does not advise against travel.
China’s broader rating stayed the same. The update changed the specific risk marker attached to the advisory.
The marker warns about detention, not a broader change in the travel rating
The department says travelers may discover an exit ban only when trying to leave China. In some cases, people learn of it at the airport. The advisory warns that there may be no way to challenge a ban in court.
That is only part of the department’s concern. It also points to broad national security, counterespionage and data security laws that could expose U.S. citizens to detention for conduct considered ordinary elsewhere. The advisory identifies additional security measures and limited consular services in Xinjiang and Tibetan areas.
It names U.S. citizens of Chinese heritage, people involved in business disputes, and people with current or past ties to U.S. law enforcement, the military, intelligence agencies or government as groups facing higher risk. Americans should assume Chinese security services can read emails, texts and social posts, the advisory says. Communications sent into or out of China could lead to serious legal consequences.
The department removed the detention marker on November 27, 2024, after the advisory dropped from Level 3 to Level 2. The change followed a prisoner exchange that freed three Americans held for years. The advisory previously used an “O” label, meaning “Other.”
A State Department spokesman said the letter and the numbered rating serve different purposes: “the D label points to one specific danger, while the advisory level reflects a wider view of safety and security.” The department’s system dates to 2018; it added the D category on July 19, 2022. The Overseas Security Advisory Council says the marker covers cases in which a foreign government may detain an American “often to gain political leverage.” It differs from K (Kidnapping or Hostage-Taking), which concerns seizure by non-state actors such as criminals or terrorists.
Two Americans remain formally designated as wrongfully detained
The update arrives as the U.S. seeks the release of two Americans it has formally designated as wrongfully detained in China. Chen Youlin, a Chinese American seismologist, was arrested in November 2024. Min Zin, a Myanmar-born scholar and U.S. citizen, was detained in June 2026.
Chinese authorities accuse both men of spying. Beijing rejects the allegations and says its judicial authorities handle cases in accordance with the law.
In September 2026, a bipartisan group of senators introduced a resolution asking the State Department to add the marker, citing the two men. Beijing has also dismissed concerns about its travel rules, saying those rules provide better legal protection for Taiwanese.
China’s newer border rules cover technology security and visa statements
China unveiled new exit-and-entry rules in July 2026, and they took effect September 15, 2026. The rules allow authorities to bar citizens from leaving for six months to three years if they return after committing illegal or criminal acts abroad that harm national security or interests.
They also allow foreign nationals to be denied entry for one to five years for false statements in visa applications. The rules cover violations of export controls and technology import and export requirements that may endanger industrial or technological security.
Shen Yu-chung, a deputy head of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, said the rules “legalise” border-control practices he described as previously lacking a legal basis. He said the new language expands enforcement agencies’ discretion, particularly through provisions on export controls and technology import-export management. He highlighted risks for Taiwanese in the technology sector.
The department advises travelers to plan check-ins and protect communications
The advisory recommends that travelers enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, so the U.S. government can contact them during an emergency. It also advises setting a regular check-in plan with family members, allowing relatives to raise an alarm if communication stops. Travelers are urged to be careful with phones and messages.
As of October 23, 2026, seven countries carried the detention marker: China, Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea, Eritrea, Nicaragua and one other country. Burma and Venezuela no longer carried it.
