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US-China relations
ChinaDiplomacy

China says US Wells Fargo executive is banned from leaving country due to ‘criminal case’

Despite spotlight on Chenyue Mao matter, foreign ministry says it will ‘welcome people from all countries to travel and do business in China’

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Chenyue Mao, an Atlanta-based executive at the Wells Fargo and a US citizen, has been banned from leaving China. In response, Wells Fargo has suspended all business travel to China. Photo: Handout
Orange Wang

China has confirmed that it barred a senior Wells Fargo executive from leaving the country, saying it banned her exit because of a “criminal case” investigation.

Last week, reports surfaced that Chenyue Mao, an Atlanta-based managing director at the American banking giant and a United States citizen, had been stopped from leaving China. In response, Wells Fargo has suspended all business travel to China.

“Ms Mao Chenyue is involved in a criminal case currently being handled by Chinese law enforcement authorities and is subject to the exit restrictions in accordance with the law,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Monday.

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He said the case was still under investigation and that Mao “cannot leave the country for the time being”.

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US-China trade remains ‘critical’, despite fraying relations and trade wars

Mao also “has the obligation to cooperate with the investigation pursuant to Chinese laws”, Guo added, without giving details of the case in which she was alleged to be involved.

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