US Poised To Allow Its Diplomats To Leave China Over Strict COVID-19 Rules

The State Department of U.S is preparing to authorize the departure of diplomats and their families who wish to leave China due to the government’s inability to prevent local authorities from subjecting them to intrusive pandemic control measures, sources told Reuters.

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Two sources said the embassy sent the request to Washington for formal approval on Monday as China steps up COVID-19 containment protocols ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics opening in less than two weeks.

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The sources, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, added that some embassy staff are upset that the government has been unwilling or unable to protect its officials from strict quarantine measures. The rules include possible forced admission to COVID clinics and separation of children.

The State Department did not respond to repeated requests for comment and it is unclear whether it approved the embassy’s request.

One person said the embassy conducted an internal survey that showed up to 25% of staff and their family members would choose to leave China as soon as possible.

Home quarantine for diplomats should be a basic requirement, and admission to Chinese fever clinics and hospitals should be voluntary, the source said, adding that Washington should have imposed retaliatory measures for such requirements but did not.

A second person said that embassy leaders had not obtained adequate assurances from China about the treatment of US diplomats during the pandemic.

China has required foreign diplomats to abide by pandemic control rules like the general population, including weeks of quarantine in centralized government facilities, where people have no freedom of movement.

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