The Chinese government has repeatedly warned American officials that they could possibly detain United States nationals in China due to the Justice Department’s prosecution of Chinese military-affiliated scholars, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal.
The sources said that the message, which has been issued through the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and multiple other channels, says that until U.S. officials drop charges against the scholars, Chinese officials may arrest Americans currently residing in the country.
According to the Journal, the sources confirmed that over the summer, the U.S. began detaining Chinese scientists conducting research at American universities over charges of concealing to U.S. immigration authorities their active duty statuses with the People’s Liberation Army.
The Journal had reported on the arrests in August, along with allegations from U.S. officials that Chinese diplomats were using these scientists as part of an intelligence-gathering scheme.
MORE China warns it will detain American nationals following DOJ prosecution of Chinese scholars: report | TheHill