Beijing Warns Citizens Of US Harassment, Crime

Beijing on Tuesday issued a pair of travel alerts for Chinese citizens considering trips to the United States, warning them about police harassment and crime.

"Recently, shootings, robberies and thefts have occurred frequently in the United States," mainland media reported, citing a statement from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The statement urged Chinese tourists to "fully assess the risks" and "improve their awareness of safety and security".

In a separate warning, the Foreign Ministry said US law enforcement agencies have "repeatedly" used methods such as immigration interviews to "harass" Chinese citizens in the US.

It urged Chinese nationals and Chinese-funded institutions in the US to be cautious and "increase awareness and strengthen preventive measures."

The warnings come a day after the education ministry said students and academics were facing US visa problems and urged them to assess the "risk" of travelling to the United States. (AFP)