China has issued a travel warning urging its citizens to exercise caution when entering the United States through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, following an incident in which 20 Chinese academics with valid visas were reportedly denied entry after what Chinese officials described as unreasonable questioning.
The warning was issued Thursday morning via X by China’s consular affairs office, which cited what it called repeated incidents at Sea-Tac involving “malicious inspections and harassment” targeting Chinese academics. Officials urged travellers to familiarise themselves with US entry regulations and be prepared for additional scrutiny. The South China Morning Post reported the group had been travelling to attend a conference when they were stopped by US border officials at the airport. US Customs and Border Protection had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.
The incident is drawing concern from prominent figures with deep experience in US-China relations. Former Washington Governor and US Ambassador to China Gary Locke said the timing could not be worse given the current state of diplomatic tensions. “This really is very puzzling,” Locke said. “It makes no sense and does not set a good tone for upcoming meetings between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping.” Locke noted the relationship between the two countries is already strained by tariffs, the conflict in the Middle East, and questions about China’s potential role in influencing Iran to de-escalate. “Turning away academics who were previously approved by the State Department does not set a good tone,” he said.
Academics who study US-China relations said the consequences of the incident will depend heavily on whether it is an isolated event or reflects a broader policy shift. David Bachman, chair of the China Studies Program at the University of Washington, said reciprocal action from Beijing is a real possibility if similar incidents continue. “If this is a one-off, then things won’t be too bad. But if it reflects a more general policy, we are likely to see reciprocation from China, with American tourists, travelers, and scholars potentially turned back at the border,” Bachman said. He also raised the prospect of economic consequences closer to home. “We have the World Cup coming up, and there will be Chinese visitors who want to attend games here and in other parts of the country. If they’re discouraged from coming, this could have an economic impact, as well as implications for US-China relations,” Bachman said.
The Port of Seattle, which owns and operates Sea-Tac, issued a statement distancing itself from the federal inspection process while affirming its commitment to welcoming travellers. “As a public-use airport subject to federal regulation, the Port does not have control over operations or entry requirements for arriving international passengers. This process is exclusively controlled by Customs and Border Protection,” the statement read. “We expect that all arriving passengers to SEA are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness in line with our Welcoming Port Policy.”
US Customs and Border Protection has not provided any further details on the incident.
