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NEWS

United States prohibits its officials in Beijing from having relationships with Chinese citizens

Updated

Neither romantic nor sexual relationships. The United States prohibits its officials in Beijing from maintaining emotional ties with Chinese citizens

Trump adjusts his jacket as he poses for a photo with Xi Jinping in 2019.
Trump adjusts his jacket as he poses for a photo with Xi Jinping in 2019.AP

Trump's war against China is no longer just an economic issue but also a sentimental one. The United States has prohibited personnel from its diplomatic delegations in the Asian giant, as well as their families, from having romantic or sexual relationships with citizens there.

Although some U.S. agencies already had strict rules regarding these types of relationships, their "non-fraternization" policy, as it has been known since the Cold War, was unknown.

The reason for these restrictions is to ensure the country's security. Trump's intelligence services believe that Beijing uses attractive men and women as bait to lure U.S. officials and gain access to state secrets. Those who violate this prohibition will be ordered to leave the country immediately. This new relationship policy does not apply to U.S. citizens who have previously had relationships with Chinese citizens.

Intelligence services believe that Beijing uses attractive men and women as "sexual decoys" to recruit them as spies. This new relationship policy extends throughout the U.S. diplomatic mission in China and also to the consulate in Hong Kong.

At least officially, the Xi Jinping government has not imposed these types of restrictions on employees in its offices in the United States.