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lite.cnn.com - on gopher - inofficial | |
ARTICLE VIEW: | |
China allows American banker placed under exit ban to leave country | |
following discussions with US | |
By Jennifer Hansler, CNN | |
Updated: | |
1:42 PM EDT, Wed September 17, 2025 | |
Source: CNN | |
An American banking executive who had been was allowed to leave the | |
country after discussions between Washington and Beijing and ahead of a | |
potential meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. | |
Two sources familiar with the matter told CNN that Atlanta-based Wells | |
Fargo banker Chenyue Mao has been released from her exit ban, which was | |
imposed by the Chinese government and blocked her departure. | |
Scores of Americans have been blocked from departing under China’s | |
exit bans – a point of ongoing tension between the two countries. The | |
US State Department has warned travelers of Beijing’s “arbitrary | |
enforcement” of laws, including exit bans. | |
US Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler alluded to her | |
release on Tuesday but did not name her. | |
“We did just get someone that was held in their home released from | |
China,” Boehler said at an event at the Center for a New American | |
Security. | |
Boehler suggested there had been high-level engagement on the matter | |
and noted the priority Trump has placed on freeing Americans detained | |
abroad. | |
“The president has set the tone and made it very clear,” he said. | |
“When things are raised at a senior level and ambassador level, at a | |
(Secretary of State Marco) Rubio level, it does make a difference,” | |
Boehler said. “They’re explaining that US policy has changed and | |
that it is a huge negative to hold Americans, and that is best | |
expressed directly.” | |
Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth both spoke with their Chinese | |
counterparts last week. Trump has said he is expected to speak with Xi | |
on Friday. | |
“It’s unacceptable everywhere to do those things,” Boehler said | |
in response to a question about China’s use of exit bans. “China | |
should know that, and I think we made it very clear, and they responded | |
in a positive way.” | |
Mao, who was born in China and is a US citizen, was placed under an | |
exit ban as part of an alleged criminal investigation. It was not clear | |
who the target of the criminal case was or how Mao was allegedly | |
involved. China does not recognize dual nationals, and the State | |
Department has warned that “U.S. citizens of Chinese descent may be | |
subject to additional scrutiny and harassment.” | |
Mao’s release comes less than two weeks after a Trump creating a | |
“state sponsor of wrongful detention” designation meant to penalize | |
countries that wrongfully imprison Americans. | |
Boehler said that new executive order, which a senior administration | |
official said at the time could be applied to China, may have also | |
played a role. | |
“China certainly has a complex decision-making process. I certainly | |
think the EO didn’t hurt in that,” he said. | |
The Chinese government did not confirm Mao’s exit ban had been | |
lifted. | |
“China upholds the rule of law and handles the related criminal case | |
and entry and exit affairs in accordance with the law. Anyone, Chinese | |
and foreigners alike, should abide by Chinese laws in China,” Chinese | |
Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. “China will as always welcome | |
people from all countries to travel and do business in China and ensure | |
their rights and interests in accordance with the law.” | |
CNN has reached out to Wells Fargo for comment. | |
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