China Warns Its Citizens About Traveling to the US
The Chinese Embassy in Washington has issued a travel alert to Chinese citizens detailing the dangers of summer travel in the US, warning that "Law and order are not well-enforced in America."
The notice, issued on June 28, states that "gunfights, stabbings, and muggings are common" in the US. It also advises Chinese tourists to "be very vigilant about the people around you, and avoid walking out alone at night."
Additionally, the Chinese Embassy said that Chinese travelers in the US should be aware that medical and healthcare costs are "expensive," and told them to be prepared for natural disasters that might hit the US during the summer months. About 3 million tourists from China visit the US each year.
And it's not only China that has been calling the US dangerous. According to recent safety rankings from the Institute for Economics and Peace, the US isn't even in the top 120 safest countries in the world. America clocks in at lowly No. 121 on the organization's Global Peace Index, which analyzes the safety of 163 nations based on cultural, economic and political factors, such as ongoing domestic and international conflict.
The US has also been warning its citizens about the potential dangers of traveling in China, although the most recent alerts have been health-related. At the end of May, the US State Department issued a notice that warned US citizens in China of the potential for sonic attacks that cause symptoms of mild brain injury or concussion.
The alert states that if US citizens in China experience "unusual acute auditory or sensory phenomena accompanied by unusual sounds or piercing noises," they should move away from the area immediately. The statement also advised that travelers in China who develop symptoms after a trip to the country should seek medical attention immediately. So far, only US diplomatic personnel have exhibited symptoms consistent with those mysterious "sonic attacks."
The US State Department currently has China ranked at a level 2 travel advisory, which means US travelers should "exercise increased caution." The State Department website attributes this slightly increased level of vigilance to "Chinese authorities have the broad ability to prohibit travelers from leaving China."
H/T: Travel + Leisure
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