China's Exit Bans on Americans Spark Diplomatic Tensions and Corporate Fears

China has imposed exit bans on a U.S. government employee and a Wells Fargo banker, preventing them from leaving the country and escalating tensions with the United States. The U.S. State Department confirmed that a Patent and Trademark Office employee is barred from leaving, while China claims the Wells Fargo executive is involved in a criminal case. These actions have raised concerns among Western businesses about the risks of operating in China, prompting Wells Fargo to suspend all business travel to the country. The use of exit bans is seen as both a legal tool and a potential diplomatic lever, straining already fraught U.S.-China relations. The incidents highlight growing anxieties for foreign nationals and companies amid ongoing geopolitical and trade disputes.