The US added a wrongful detention warning to its China travel advisory on Oct 19, 2026.
Level 2 means exercise increased caution. It is not a do-not-travel warning.
The D indicator flags the risk of wrongful detention for US citizens.
This is the first time China has carried the D mark. The Sept 4 update did not have it.
Some travelers learn about an exit ban only when they try to fly home.
Exit bans have been used in business disputes. Some lasted for years.
Emails, texts, and social media may be read by Chinese authorities.
American scholar Min Zin was wrongfully detained in China this year, NBC News reported.
China surpassed Russia in wrongfully detaining Americans in 2024, a study found.
Iran, Afghanistan, Eritrea, and Nicaragua also carry the D mark.
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