A Chinese-American Wells Fargo banker under an exit ban has been allowed to return to the United States before President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s planned talks on Friday.
Adam Boehler, President Donald Trump’s special envoy for hostage response, said high-level engagement by the Trump administration drove the release during a conversation on Tuesday at the Center for a New American Security in Washington.
In June, Wells Fargo executive and U.S. citizen Mao Chenyue, born in Shanghai and living in Atlanta, was banned from leaving China after her visit, drawing significant international attention.
Beijing alleged that Mao is involved in “a criminal case” and “has an obligation” to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. Wells Fargo has since reportedly halted all travel to China as a result of the incident.
The State Department and Wells Fargo did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Mao’s release.
The release precedes the first direct conversation between Trump and Xi since June 2025, scheduled for Friday. Trump described it on Truth Social as an opportunity to affirm a "very strong" relationship. Trump also aims to meet with Xi as soon as next month.
'State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention'
Mao’s case is one of several where U.S. citizens have been barred from leaving China. Global organizations are increasingly worried about their employees traveling there, especially those with government ties or Chinese heritage.Yeh Yao-Yuan, professor of political science and international studies at the University of St. Thomas, told The Epoch Times on July 18 that China often detains people on charges of espionage and economic crimes, but that “the charges often lack transparency or evidence and are more for diplomatic leverage.”
“Hostage diplomacy” has become a common practice of the Chinese regime, he said.
In another case this year, a Chinese-American employee of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office was barred from leaving China. The regime said he didn’t disclose his government job on his visa application.
The Trump administration is strengthening countermeasures.
On Sept. 5, Trump signed an executive order to protect Americans wrongfully detained abroad. It introduces a new label, "State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention," to target countries using detained Americans for political gain.
In November 2024, the U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory for mainland China, urging visitors to “exercise increased caution” due to “arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans.”