US government tells staff in China not to have romantic ties with Chinese citizens

The only exception to the policy is US personnel with pre-existing relations with Chinese citizens; they can apply for exemptions. If the exemption is denied, they must end the relationship or leave their position,

sources familiar with the matter were quoted as saying in the report

The counterintelligence and economic espionage efforts emanating from the government of China and the Chinese Communist Party are a grave threat to the economic well-being and democratic values of the United States,

the Federal Burea of Investigation asserts on its website

The MSS is willing to leverage any human connection that a target has to collect intelligence,

Mattis said, using an acronym referring to China’s Ministry of State Security