China blocks Wells Fargo banker from leaving due to 'criminal case'

July 21, 2025

A Wells Fargo managing director, Chenyue Mao, has been prevented from leaving China due to her involvement in an unspecified criminal case being handled by Chinese authorities. In response, Wells Fargo has suspended all employee travel to China while working through official channels to secure Mao's return to the United States. The U.S. embassy in Shanghai expressed concern about China's use of arbitrary exit bans, stating they have raised the issue with Chinese officials.

Who is affected

Chenyue Mao, a Wells Fargo managing director and U.S. citizen
Wells Fargo employees who can no longer travel to China
Wells Fargo as an organization (with branches in Shanghai and Beijing)
U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals in China who may face similar exit bans
U.S.-China diplomatic and business relations

What action is being taken

Chinese law enforcement authorities are handling a criminal case involving Mao
Wells Fargo is "working through the appropriate channels" to secure Mao's return
Wells Fargo has suspended all employee travel to China
The U.S. embassy is tracking these cases and has raised concerns with Chinese authorities
China is enforcing exit restrictions on Mao "in accordance with the law"

Why it matters

The incident highlights China's practice of imposing exit bans on foreign nationals, which the U.S. describes as often lacking "clear and transparent judicial process"
It occurs during a period of diplomatic tension between China and the U.S., particularly regarding business relations
The situation affects Wells Fargo's operations in China, where they have maintained branches in Shanghai since 2005 and Beijing since 2015
It represents a concrete example of risks foreign business executives face operating in China amid geopolitical tensions
The case comes as Beijing has pledged to allow more foreign participation in its business sectors to attract investment despite worsening relations

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC