The U.S. government has banned American government personnel in China, as well as family members and contractors with security clearances, from any romantic or sexual relationships with Chinese citizens.
The headlines leave out the part where this is a requirement of their security clearance. It is not uncommon for those holding a security clearance to be discouraged or prohibited from relationships with foreign nationals. It also isn’t a direct prohibition, it would just result in a loss of their clearance, and you are absolutely correct that this will result in more leverage against US personnel.
The headlines leave out the part where this is a requirement of their security clearance. It is not uncommon for those holding a security clearance to be discouraged or prohibited from relationships with foreign nationals. It also isn’t a direct prohibition, it would just result in a loss of their clearance, and you are absolutely correct that this will result in more leverage against US personnel.