(17 Oct 2019) China has detained two United States citizens on suspicion of organizing illegal border crossings, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Thursday. He said police in the eastern province of Jiangsu arrested the Americans at the end of last month, and that authorities had arranged for US diplomats "to conduct consular visits and protect the legitimate rights and interests of the two."
Both of them were involved in an organization called China Horizons, whose website says it is an "English teaching program that offers an immersive experience within a Chinese school."
The charge of "organizing others to illegally cross the border" carries a minimum sentence of two years, with punishment as severe as life imprisonment under certain circumstances.
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing confirmed that it is aware of the detention of two U.S. citizens in China. The embassy did not give further details on their case.
Geng was speaking at his regular daily news conference in Beijing.
During the news conference, he also said China opposes new reporting requirements announced by the Trump administration on Chinese diplomats.
Geng also commented on China's relations with Australia and Japan.
Find out more about AP Archive:
Twitter:
Facebook:
Google+:
Tumblr:
Instagram:
You can license this story through AP Archive:
0 Comments