China 2020 Crime & Safety Report: Shenyang
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China 2020 Crime & Safety Report: Shenyang This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Consulate in Shenyang. OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in the northeastern Chinese provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning. For more in-depth information, review OSAC’s China country page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Travel Advisory Note that the Regional Security Office submitted this report prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, and it represents a picture of the baseline security environment as of the beginning of 2020. The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication advises avoiding travel to China the novel coronavirus. However, the Travel Advisory in effect prior to the outbreak assessed China at Level 2, indicating travelers should Exercise increased caution in China due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws and special restrictions on dual U.S.-Chinese citizens. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. Chinese authorities have asserted broad authority to prohibit U.S. citizens from leaving China by using exit bans, sometimes keeping U.S. citizens in China for years. China uses exit bans coercively: • to compel U.S. citizens to participate in Chinese government investigations; • to lure individuals back to China from abroad; and • to aid Chinese authorities in resolving civil disputes in favor of Chinese parties. In most cases, U.S. citizens only become aware of the exit ban when they attempt to depart China. Authorities have harassed and threatened U.S. citizens subject to exit bans. U.S. citizens may be detained without access to U.S. consular services or information about their alleged crime. U.S. citizens may be subject to interrogations and extended detention for reasons purportedly related to state security. Extra security measures, such as security checks and increased levels of police presence, are common in the Xinjiang Uighur and Tibet Autonomous Regions. China does not recognize dual nationality. U.S.-Chinese citizens and U.S. citizens of Chinese heritage may be subject to additional scrutiny and harassment. Overall Crime and Safety Situation Crime Threats The U.S. Department of State has assessed Shenyang as a LOW-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Shenyang, with a population of over eight million people, is generally safe when compared with major urban areas of comparable size. The police and security service presence deters most serious crime, though petty crime does occur with some regularity. The economy of parts of northeastern China, and Liaoning province in particular, has lagged behind much of the rest of China in recent years. This is a factor of much of the economic crime experienced in the region. 1 Shenyang, as well as other major cities of northeastern China, has a large migrant population made up of laborers from the countryside and smaller towns. This population increases during warmer months when large construction projects are in full swing, and ebbs during the colder months when construction slows. Workers often live in large, temporary housing structures on-site that move from one construction project to the next. This migrant population is associated with certain crimes (e.g. petty theft, assault) fueled in part by opportunity, alcohol, and desperation. Shenyang, like most of northeastern China, has a small expatriate community. The most common crimes affecting Westerners are crimes of opportunity (e.g. purse snatching, pickpocketing, taxi-fare extortion, and counterfeit currency). Though criminal elements do not specifically target Westerners, they sometimes fall prey to these crimes, especially around tourist centers. RSO Shenyang is also aware of cases of assault and groping happening in public. Fraud and corruption persist in northeastern China, although in recent years the central government’s sweeping anti-corruption campaign has seen investigations and arrests of large number of officials in the region. Generally, lesser-developed areas in major cities have a higher rate of crime. Statistically, more crimes of opportunity transpire during overnight hours. For example, individuals who frequent bars, nightclubs, and similar establishments are more likely to be involved in physical altercations after midnight. Training, capability, and responsiveness of Chinese authorities varies by region and city. The income disparity in Chinese society has been a source of social friction and is a root cause for much of the economic crime experienced in Beijing and other large Chinese cities. This includes pickpocketing, credit card fraud, and various financial scams, many of which target foreign victims because of their perceived wealth. Pickpocketing on public transportation during peak hours, in shopping areas, and at tourist sites is common. In such locations, travelers may have little or no personal space, making them more vulnerable to pickpocketing and petty theft. Thieves target cash, credit cards, jewelry, cell phones, cameras, and other electronic devices, among other personal belongings. At tourist sites, thieves are generally more interested in cash, and will immediately abandon credit cards; in shopping areas, they may seek cash and credit cards. Make copies of your passport photo page and visa, as well as credit card numbers (to include telephone contact information in the event the card is stolen), and store in your hotel or residence – and keep a copy of the photo saved on your phone – in the event the actual items are stolen. Review OSAC’s report, All That You Should Leave Behind. Criminals often work in teams and use distraction techniques; some may carry knives, even if they do not routinely brandish them. Violent crime is relatively uncommon. Violent crime affecting the expatriate community most often occurs in bars, nightclubs, and other nightlife establishments. Bar fights often involve excessive drinking, insults regarding ethnicity/nationality, and disputes over women, and usually result in large numbers of local patrons physically overwhelming foreigners. While the legal age for consuming alcohol is 18, most establishments do not require identification. Some bars are overcrowded, and authorities do not routinely enforce safety standards. Prostitutes and drugs are present in some clubs and karaoke bars. 2 Travelers may encounter scenes of domestic violence or assault on the street. These incidents usually involve shoving, punching, and kicking. Even when a crowd forms, no one generally intervenes to stop the assault for fear of blame or liability. If necessary, locate the nearest police officer or station for assistance. Workplace violence and assaults are less common but also occur, with several expatriates reportedly receiving threats or assaulted because of contract or wage disputes with business partners and employers. Review OSAC’s report, Detained in China. Sexual assaults have occurred, although reported incidents remain relatively rare. Most instances follow the excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages in bars, nightclubs, and massage parlors. Other factors potentially contributing to sexual assault include the use of unlicensed taxis, undertaking high-risk activities, or failing to follow best security practices. Review OSAC’s report, Shaken: The Don’ts of Alcohol Abroad. Criminals use various scams to defraud foreign victims. Scamming of foreigners is less frequent in northeast China, as there are fewer foreign visitors. While there have been instances of robbery by force, many cases appear to have involved a variation of the same scam. Typically, scammers invite a victim to a specific location for a massage, tea, drinks, or music, or to view an art exhibition or practice English skills. While in the establishment, criminals confront the victim and force them to turn over a credit card under the threat of violence. The criminals then charge the credit cards with thousands of dollars in purchases, for which the victim must sign the receipt. In most cases, criminals release the victims unharmed, though distraught or embarrassed, with further threats of violence should they notify the police. Although this trend has occurred for several years, it appears to be continuing unabated. Local police are willing to engage, but often seem unwilling to investigate the crimes if the complainant is no longer present in China. In instances where the victim reported the crime to the police immediately, there has been limited success in recovering lost money or valuables, but evidence of prosecutions is scarce. Review OSAC’s reports, Common China Scams and Common China Scams pt. II: Theft/Extortion. Scammers send text messages and emails referring to fraudulent bills and/or traffic tickets to trick people into paying money. Scammers use information gained from recent data security breaches to trick their victims into believing that they are legitimate callers. For example, a caller may reference a victim’s name, address, ID number, family member names, and/or school to trick the victim into sending them money. Scammers pose as a police officers, and place telephone calls requesting a funds transfer to resolve an identity theft or money laundering investigation. The situation can be “resolved” if the victim