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The US government has barred American staff in China from having romantic or sexual relationships with Chinese citizens. The rule also applies to their family members and contract workers with security clearances.
Former US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns issued the directive in January 2025, shortly before leaving his post. According to the Associated Press, they learned of the policy from four individuals familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the rule is confidential.
The rule affects all US diplomatic offices in China, including the embassy in Beijing and consulates in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, Wuhan, and Hong Kong. It does not apply to American personnel working in other countries.
Previously, American staff in China were required only to report close personal ties with Chinese citizens. They were not banned from such relationships. A narrower policy, put in place last summer, restricted relationships with Chinese guards and support workers at US offices.
This broader ban is the most public of its kind since the Cold War. It includes one exception: Staff who already had relationships with Chinese citizens may apply for permission to continue them.
If permission is denied, they must end the relationship or leave their role. Anyone who breaks the rule must leave China immediately.
The directive was shared in meetings and internal messages with staff but was not officially announced. The State Department declined to comment on internal policy matters.
The National Security Council referred questions to the State Department. Burns, now with The Cohen Group, did not respond to a request for comment.
Two sources said the policy change followed concerns from members of Congress, who said the earlier rules were not strict enough. The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party did not reply to a request for comment.
Using romantic connections to gather intelligence is a long-standing tactic used by foreign governments. During the Cold War, the US banned its staff in the Soviet bloc and China from forming personal ties after a US Marine in Moscow was tricked by a Soviet spy. Those rules were later eased after the Soviet Union collapsed.
US diplomats today are still warned about so-called “honeypot” tactics that may arise in the case of relationships with Chinese citizens. Before being posted to China, they are briefed with real cases showing how agents tried to gather secrets through romantic setups.
Peter Mattis, a former CIA analyst, said China’s security agency, the Ministry of State Security, often uses personal ties to gather information. He added that even regular citizens may be pressured to help, meaning any relationship with a US official could pose a risk.
China’s foreign ministry did not comment directly, saying questions about the rule should be directed to the U.S.
China has also increased restrictions on its workers overseas. Civil servants with foreign spouses may face limits in career growth. Diplomats are often rotated out of countries to avoid long stays.
Military and police officers are usually not allowed to travel abroad without special approval. Relationships with foreigners are often banned across Chinese government agencies.
