NEW YORK, April 3. /TASS/. The US government has prohibited its employees in China and their families from being in a romantic relationship with Chinese nationals, sources told The Associated Press (AP).
The news agency has learned that last summer, a more restricted ban on any "romantic or sexual relationships" with Chinese citizens working as guards and other support staff was put into effect for US government personnel at the American embassy and five US consulates in the East Asian country. However, in January, days before US President Donald Trump took office, departing US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns extended the policy to a ban on relationships with any Chinese national.
The only exception to the ban is American personnel who had been in a relationship with Chinese citizens before the policy was enacted, the AP reported. They can apply for an exemption, but if that is denied, they must either end their relationships or resign.
The measure was communicated to US personnel in China verbally and electronically in January, but it has not been publicly announced yet, the AP said.