New Delhi, Oct. 23 -- The US State Department has warned American citizens travelling to mainland China to exercise increased caution, citing the risk of wrongful detention, arbitrary enforcement of local laws and restrictions on leaving the country.

In a travel advisory issued on October 19, 2026, the department assigned China a Level 2 warning, advising travellers to exercise increased caution. It said China's expansive national security, counterespionage and data security laws give authorities broad discretion to detain or interrogate foreign nationals, including over routine business activities, research and public expression.

The advisory also flagged risks for Americans of Chinese heritage, businesspeople involved in disputes, aca...