In a significant policy shift reminiscent of Cold War-era restrictions, the U.S. government has just prohibited American diplomats, their family members, and contractors with security clearances from engaging in romantic or sexual relationships with Chinese citizens while stationed in China.

The Associated Press reports that this directive was put into effect by outgoing U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns in January, and it applies to all U.S. diplomatic missions in both mainland China and Hong Kong.

The policy, which has not been publicly announced, was communicated verbally and electronically to American personnel earlier this year. It represents an unprecedented level of restriction, with experts suggesting it reflects escalating concerns over espionage threats posed by Beijing’s intelligence apparatus.

A New Directive Amid Rising Tensions

According to four individuals with direct knowledge of the matter who spoke to Associate Press, the policy was introduced just before Ambassador Burns departed his post as the Ambassador of the United States to China in January.

While some U.S. agencies already had strict rules regarding relationships with foreign nationals, this blanket “non-fraternization” policy is the first of its kind since the Cold War. It is uncommon for American diplomats in other countries to date locals and even marry them.

The original restrictions just stipulates that U.S personnel working in China are barred from engaging in romantic or sexual relationships with Chinese citizens employed as guards or support staff at U.S diplomatic facilities, but the new policy Burns put in place extends the purview of the ban "to relationships with any Chinese citizens" in January, just days before President Donald Trump took office.

The extension of the ban comes after members of the Congress contacted Burns to express concern that the original restrictions on such relationships were not stringent enough.

The new policy covers U.S missions in mainland China, including the embassy in Beijing and consulates in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Wuhan, we well as the American consulate in the semi-autonomous terriotry of Hong Kong.

The new directive evokes memories of Cold War-era restrictions when U.S. Personnel stationed in adversarial nations faced similar bans on personal relationships with locals. Back then, intelligence services would often use attractive men and women to obtain sensitive information.

Declassified State Department documents reveal that in 1987, American diplomats were prohibited from befriending, dating, or having sexual relations with citizens of the Soviet bloc and China after a U.S. Marine in Moscow was seduced by a Soviet spy. These restrictions were relaxed following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 but have now been revived amid growing geopolitical tensions with Beijing.

Until this year, American personnel stationed in China were required to report any intimate contact with Chinese citizens to their supervisors but were not explicitly forbidden from such relationships. The new blanket ban represents a stark departure from previous policies.

Espionage Concerns Drive Policy Change

Experts suggest that this policy shift stems from heightened concerns over espionage threats posed by China's Ministry of State Security (MSS). Intelligence agencies worldwide have long used so-called “honeypots” — attractive individuals deployed to seduce targets — as a means of extracting sensitive information. Beijing is believed to continue employing such tactics aggressively against American diplomats and officials.

Peter Mattis, a former CIA analyst and president of The Jamestown Foundation, noted that there have been at least two publicized cases where Chinese agents successfully seduced American diplomats stationed in China. While such incidents have not been reported recently, Mattis emphasized that Beijing’s intelligence operations extend beyond traditional espionage methods.

Chinese intelligence services are also known to coerce ordinary citizens into providing information through threats or intimidation, further complicating relationships between Americans and Chinese nationals.

Similarly, Beijing has also tightened controls on its own personnel overseas in recent years. According to Chinese regulations and reports from individuals familiar with its bureaucracy, civil servants are barred from promotions if their spouses acquire foreign citizenships.

Diplomats are also restricted from spending extended periods abroad and are often required to return home after short postings. Additionally, members of China’s military and police forces face strict prohibitions on leaving the country without explicit approval.