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2019 Crime & Safety Report:

This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou, China.

The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses China at Level 2, indicating travelers should exercise increased caution due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws as well as special restrictions on dual U.S.-Chinese nationals.

Overall Crime and Safety Situation

The U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou does not assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the persons or firms appearing in this report. The ACS unit cannot recommend a particular individual or establishment and assumes no responsibility for the quality of services provided.

Review OSAC’s China-specific webpage for proprietary analytic reports, Consular Messages, and contact information.

The Guangzhou Consular serves , covering the provinces of , , , and

Crime Threats

There is minimal risk from crime in Guangzhou, one of the largest cities in the world; it is generally safe when compared with urban areas of similar size. Police, security services, and private security guards are heavily present and serve to deter most serious crime; however, petty crimes do occur with some regularity. The income disparity in Chinese society has been a source of social friction and is a root cause of much of the economic crime experienced in Guangzhou. This includes pickpocketing, bag snatching, credit card fraud, and various financial scams, often targeting foreigners.

The crime rate dropped by 11.3% in 2018, and judicial crime clearance increased by 3.2%. Authorities announced rewards towards the arrest of 50 most wanted gang related fugitives.

The most common criminal incidents are economic in nature; criminals often target victims because of their perceived wealth. Pickpocketing on public transportation (e.g. subway, buses), in shopping areas, and at tourist sites is common. Thieves target , credit cards, cell phones, cameras, and other electronic devices.

Confidence schemes are common in Guangzhou; criminals often view foreigners as wealthy, gullible targets. If someone approaches on the street or contacts you by email, remember that offers that are too good to be true often are.

Violent crime is uncommon. Violent crime affecting the expatriate community most often takes place in bars and nightclubs.

1  In January 2019, a man carrying a knife killed one person and injured eight in , /Guangdong Province. Authorities apprehended and detained the suspect and detained, ruling out the possibility of violent terrorism.  A man with a knife stabbed people and hijacked a bus in December 2018. He used the bus to ram passersby and vehicles in Fujian Province. Local police arrested the man.  In 2016, during the Spring , a U.S. male received knife wounds at a bar. Some bars are overcrowded, and do not enforce safety standards routinely. While the legal age for consuming alcohol is 18, most establishments do not require identification. Prostitutes and drugs are present in some clubs and karaoke bars.

Armed break-ins are relatively rare.

 There was an attempted burglary of a Consulate residence in 2013, during which the burglar armed himself with a club.

Cybersecurity Issues

China is infamous for the use of sophisticated cyber capabilities, including spear phishing, targeting of mobile devices, and social engineering/network manipulation. Viruses, malware, and other forms of malicious software are common.

Transportation-Safety Situation

Road Safety and Road Conditions

Road conditions in larger cities are generally good to excellent, while driving conditions in rural areas are usually poor. Roads in Guangzhou are extremely crowded; many drivers are new to operating a motor vehicle. Drivers are often either overly cautious or aggressive, resulting in numerous accidents every day. Drivers rarely adhere to traffic laws, and policing occurs remotely by video camera (mainly through speed traps). Yielding to oncoming traffic/pedestrians and signaling one’s intentions in advance are virtually unheard of. Traffic signals are absent at key locations, stop signs are often non-existent, and road closures are poorly marked, if at all.

Overloading of vehicles, poor training, and lack of safety checks are major contributors to accidents. Most accidents are minor and are resolved on the scene. Cars must remain at the scene of the accident and should not pull over to the side of the road. In traffic accidents involving foreigners, the foreigner is often at fault, regardless of the actual cause of the accident. Always call the police, and do not make unofficial agreements and/or argue with the other party regardless of responsibility. If an accident involves a vehicle/bicycle and a pedestrian, the driver is generally at fault. An ambulance responding to the scene will not take a pedestrian to the hospital unless the driver rides along to ensure payment for treatment.

All drivers must possess a Chinese driver’s license. International and U.S. licenses are not valid.

Public Transportation Conditions

Public transportation in major metropolitan areas is comparatively modern. Buses, subways, and taxis are of relatively new design. Buses and trains are often crowded, with individuals employed specifically to “wedge” additional passengers into conveyances that are already loaded well beyond recommended capacity. Bus accidents are common.

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Marked taxicabs are generally safe, inexpensive, and relatively reliable. While taxicabs come in a variety of colors, they are easily identifiable. In Guangzhou, use yellow or blue taxis, as the two transportation companies that own them have a higher level of service standards and a good reputation. Avoid unofficial taxis. Insist that the driver use the meter; you should not have to negotiate the price of a trip.

In a limited number of cases, travelers have reported having their luggage stolen, and some have reported exorbitant fares. Luggage theft typically involves a taxi transporting individuals to/from the airport, with the driver intentionally leaving the scene before unloading bags.

Didi and similar ride sharing services are popular; many report using these services without incident. Nevertheless, conflicts between drivers and other taxi services occur.

Aviation/Airport Conditions

There are numerous domestic and international flights out of Baiyun International Airport (CAN), but flight delays are common.

Terrorism Threat

Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns

There is minimal risk from terrorism in Guangzhou. China’s domestic counterterrorism efforts remain primarily focused against the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM/ETIP, the East Turkestan Islamic Party), a -based terrorist group that seeks independence for the Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of northwestern China. In public statements, Chinese government officials have singled out the “Three Evils” of extremism, separatism, and terrorism in Xinjiang as the main terrorist threat to the nation, and have characterized Uighur discontent as terrorist activity. rights organizations maintain that China uses counterterrorism as a pretext to suppress Uighurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group comprising a large percentage of the population in Xinjiang.

Due to government control over media and information, threat information is limited. As a result, many look to questionable online media outlets, which results in unverifiable threat reporting. A series of incidents involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and stabbings occurred in the region over the past several years, some of which the government labeled as terror attacks and others the government called the result of emotionally disturbed individuals. The most deadly was a series of parcel bombs targeting public buildings in , Guanxi province, in 2015. The attacks killed 17 people and wounded approximately 50 others. The government attributed the bombings to the actions of a lone criminal.

Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence

Civil Unrest

There is minimal risk from civil unrest in Guangzhou. While Chinese society overall remains stable, there has been a noticeable uptick in civil unrest over certain issues. In the past few years, labor disputes, environmental concerns, and contested land seizures gave rise to several large- scale protests in southern China. Protestors, regularly numbering in the thousands, often clashed with large numbers of riot police.

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Geo-political events often influence the occurrence of political demonstrations, but such demonstrations are rarely out of the control of security services. Police are generally quick to react to violent outbreaks, sometimes using force to subdue disturbances.

Protests outside of official U.S. facilities occasionally occur, but gatherings are typically small, relatively peaceful, and generally focused against the Chinese government.

Religious/Ethnic Violence

The government remains focused on maintaining social stability and preventing civil unrest over economic and social grievances. In recent years, the largest and most violent incidents have taken place in ethnic minority areas (e.g. Tibet, Xinjiang) where grievances over human rights abuses and discriminatory policies result in spontaneous outbursts of violence targeting the government and interests. The frequency of large-scale violent incidents in Xinjiang increased significantly in 2015.

A 2014 knife attack in illustrates that other areas are not immune to religious/ethnic violence. The government has been preventing people from crossing the border in Guangxi, and has increasingly remanded illegal border crossers to Chinese custody.

Post-specific Concerns

Environmental Hazards

China’s southern coast is subject to heavy rainfall, flooding, and , usually July- September.

Super- made landfall on the coast near Kong in September 2018, causing widespread destruction throughout the Southern Province, including Guangzhou. The U.S. Consulate closed for one day in the aftermath of the storm due to power outages, roads blockages, and Provincial Government recommendation that businesses remain closed. According to the latest reports from the Guangdong Civil Affairs Department, more than 951,000 people in Guangdong’s 14 cities including , , , and , relocated to safety because of the typhoon. The storm grounded all Guangzhou and Shenzhen flights, and all high-speed train services and some normal-speed rail services were out of operation as well. At least four people died in Guangdong.

Critical Infrastructure

Accidents and fatalities continue to plague China’s heavy industries. Worker safety and quality assurance are lacking.

 In August 2015, a series of explosions at a container storage station at the Port of killed 173 people and injured nearly 800. The initial blast, caused by unknown hazardous materials in shipping containers in a warehouse, triggered a series of secondary explosions that continued for several days.  In December 2015, a landslide in Shenzhen caused by construction waste, and attributed to human negligence, destroyed 33 buildings and killed approximately 69 people.

Economic Concerns

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The distribution of counterfeit currency is a common risk. Unsuspecting travelers receive fraudulent notes at restaurants, stores, ATMs, and taxicabs. Large numbers of 100 RMB and 50 RMB counterfeit notes circulate, and even fake 10 RMB and 20 RMB denominations occur. A common tactic seen in taxis involves a passenger paying with a 100 RMB note; the driver switches the note with a counterfeit bill, “returning” the bill as counterfeit, and then demanding a genuine note. A driver may repeat this tactic until individuals have lost significant sums of money. Consider taking a photograph of large bills before spending them and matching serial numbers if a driver accuses you of spending counterfeit cash.

Be particularly mindful that trade secrets, negotiating positions, and other business sensitive information are at risk. Competitors, counterparts, and/or Chinese regulatory/legal entities may steal and share them without your knowledge.

Counterfeit products are readily available, but it is illegal to import them into the U.S. U.S. Customs officials have the authority to seize suspect goods and impose fines on travelers caught attempting to enter the U.S. with counterfeit items.

Privacy Concerns

Maintain no expectation of privacy in public or private locations. There are regular reports of the human and technical monitoring of U.S. private businesspersons and visiting U.S. citizens alike. The areas around U.S. and other foreign diplomatic facilities and residences are under overt physical and video surveillance; dozens of security personnel stand watch outside of facilities and around residences, while video cameras are visible throughout diplomatic offices and residential neighborhoods. Overt placement of microphones and video cameras are common in taxis.

Activities and conversations in rooms (including meeting rooms), offices, cars, and taxis are subject to onsite or remote monitoring. Authorities may access hotel rooms, residences, and offices at any time without the occupants’ consent/knowledge. Authorities may search personal possessions, including computers, in hotel rooms without the knowledge/consent of the owner. Elevators and public areas of housing compounds are under continuous surveillance. In 2016, there was a reported increase in the tampering of locks on the front door of their residences, either suggesting forced entry or resulting in door locks that no longer operated as intended.

Chinese authorities monitor all means of communication (e.g. telephones, mobile phones, faxes, emails, text messages). The Chinese government has publicly declared that it regularly monitors private email and Internet browsing through cooperation with the limited number of internet service providers (ISPs) and wireless providers operating in China. Wireless access to the Internet in major metropolitan areas is becoming more common, so Chinese authorities can access official and personal computers more easily. U.S. government employees have reported seeing unknown computers and devices accessing their home networks; these intrusions likely required advanced computer knowledge and network password hacking.

China blocks many popular services and websites (e.g. Google, Twitter, and Facebook). WeChat and other alternative Chinese applications are nearly ubiquitous; however, they have built-in features that allow the Chinese government to monitor and censor messages, access the device’s address book and photos, track the user’s location, or even activate the microphone/camera. Bloggers are subject to particular scrutiny, and may have content blocked depending on the profile, following, and content.

5 Personal Identity Concerns

In recent years, U.S. citizens and of other countries visiting or resident in China have reported interrogation or detainment for reasons said to relate to “state security.” In such circumstances, individuals could face arrest, detention, or an exit ban for a prolonged period. Dual U.S.-Chinese nationals and U.S. citizens of Chinese heritage may be at a higher risk of facing such special scrutiny.

Reports of discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, race, nationality, disability, etc. are relatively uncommon.

Drug-related Crimes

The government is concerned about domestic drug use, and enforcement efforts are widespread. The government actively conducts drug arrests.

 In November 2018, Guangzhou Customs officers seized a total of 59.5 kilograms of smuggled drugs, detaining 19 suspects. A man admitted to having swallowed six bags of before he boarded a plane to help a foreign drug gang.  In October 2016, Guangdong Drug Enforcement seized more than 2,000 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. The drugs are produced in Guangdong and trafficked to Southeast via .

Even with the increase in drug enforcement, certain drugs (e.g. marijuana, stimulants) are easily accessible to foreigners, especially around bars and nightclubs expatriates frequent.

Kidnapping Threat

Kidnappings occur mostly over business disputes; one might better categorize them as “unlawful detentions,” often in the office or hotel room of the victim. The kidnappers may allow the victim to use their mobile phones (to arrange the resolution of the dispute); immediately call the police for assistance. Some local businesspeople who feel wronged by a foreign business partner may hire “debt collectors” to harass and intimidate the foreigner in hopes of collecting the debt. Foreign managers or company owners have been physically “held hostage” as leverage during dispute negotiations. In addition, the government has placed travel bans on foreigners involved in business disputes. The U.S. Department of State has no legal or law enforcement authority, and can neither involve itself in private disputes nor give legal advice.

Police Response

Urban forces receive good training and equipment, especially in Guangzhou and other first-tier cities, where authorities spend millions of dollars on security-related infrastructure. Local police are somewhat effective at deterring crime. Police response to foreign victims of crime depends upon the type of infraction, where it transpired, and the social status of the victim (e.g. private citizen, diplomat, VIP). Most responses to alarms and emergency calls are sufficiently prompt if the police know that the victim is a Westerner or a person of importance. In many cases, local police authorities will serve as a mediator between the victim and criminal to agree upon financial compensation, sometimes in lieu of jail time.

Police officers have the right to assess fines at the scene of an incident. This may look like soliciting a bribe, but it is not.

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How to Handle Incidents of Police Detention or Harassment

Police have the authority to detain and deport foreigners for a wide variety of reasons. Authorities may detain for questioning travelers who do not have their passport with them. If police arrest a U.S. citizen, the U.S.-China Consular Convention requires Chinese authorities to notify the U.S. Embassy/Consulate of the arrest within four days. If a traveler holds the citizenship of another country and entered China using a passport of that country, authorities are not required to notify the U.S. Embassy/Consulate. Typically, the police will not allow anyone other than a consular officer to visit the traveler during the initial detention period. Authorities rarely grant bail. Suspects can be subject to detention for many months before authorities grant a trial.

Crime Victim Assistance

If U.S. citizens become the victim of a crime, contact the police by dialing 110, though English- language capabilities may vary significantly. They may also contact American Citizen Services (ACS) at the Consulate. ACS officers can recommend appropriate medical facilities, provide contact information for local attorneys, notify family members, and explain how to transfer funds to China.

Medical Emergencies

For all life-threatening medical emergencies, call 120 for ambulance service. Ambulances typically have a physician and nurse, and take patients to the nearest hospital emergency room. English-speaking capabilities may be limited or non-existent. Ambulances generally do not carry sophisticated medical equipment, and personnel may have limited advanced medical training. can be severe; there is not a tradition of yielding to emergency vehicles. As a result, injured or seriously ill patients may need to take taxis or other immediately available vehicles to the nearest major hospital rather than waiting for ambulances to arrive.

There are some Western-style medical facilities with international staff in Guangzhou, including a large modern hospital in Panyu, a southern district. Payment of hospital and other expenses is the patient’s responsibility. While the quality of care is improving, many people prefer to travel to Hong Kong even for routine medical care.

In rural areas, only rudimentary medical facilities are generally available. Medical personnel in rural areas are often poorly trained, have little medical equipment, or availability of medications. Rural clinics are often reluctant to accept responsibility for treating foreigners, even in emergencies.

Contact Information for Available Medical Services

International SOS maintains a 24-hour alarm center for visitors to China. SOS representatives will advise on the availability of care in most urban areas. Tel: : 400-818-0767 (inside China) or 86-10-6462-9100 (outside China); Hong Kong: 852-2528-9900; USA: 215-942-8226

EurAm International Medical Center: Tel: 3758-5328; 137-1041-3347 (24-hour emergency line)

United Family Clinic: Tel: 8710-6000; 8710-6060 (24-hour emergency line)

Available Air Ambulance Services

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Air ambulance service varies. International SOS is the main Western air ambulance provider along China's east coast. MEDEX also provides regional air ambulance services.

Insurance Guidance

Strongly consider purchasing medical evacuation (medevac) insurance prior to travel, as medical evacuation by air is expensive: US$60,000-$100,000 per flight depending upon the patient's condition and medevac destination.

Know what medical services your health insurance will cover overseas. If your health insurance policy provides coverage outside the U.S., carry both your insurance policy identity card as proof of insurance and a claim form. Although many health insurance companies will pay "customary and reasonable" hospital costs abroad, very few will pay for medevac back to the U.S.

Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance

The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for China.

OSAC Country Council Information

Guangzhou has an active OSAC Country Council. Contact OSAC’s and the Pacific team with any questions.

U.S. Consulate Location and Contact Information

U.S. Consulate Guangzhou, 43 Hua Jiu Lu, , Guangzhou 510623

Hours: Monday-Friday, 0800-1700 (except U.S. and Chinese holidays)

Consulate Contact Numbers

Main (Switchboard): 86-20-3814-5000 Regional Security Officer (RSO): 86-20-3814-5006 Medical Unit: 86-20-3814-5884 Consular Affairs: 86-20-3814-5775; 86-185-2067-6921 (after-hours emergency) Marine Post One: 86-20-3814-5444 Email: [email protected] Website: https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/embassy-consulates/guangzhou/

Nearby Posts: Embassy Beijing, Consulate , Consulate , Consulate , Consulate

Consulate Guidance

U.S. citizens should register with the Consulate by entering their travel itinerary and contact information into the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). In case of difficulties registering online, please contact the closest U.S. Embassy/Consulate for assistance.

Additional Resources: China Country Information Sheet

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