China has issued a security advisory to Chinese nationals traveling to the U.S. this summer amid escalated trade tensions between the two countries.
China's embassy in Washington, D.C. recently published the alert to its website, stating that "public security in the United States is not good."
"Cases of shootings, robberies, and theft are frequent," the notice added. "Travelers in the United States should be alert to their surroundings and suspicious individuals, and avoid going out alone at night."
The embassy also warned of expensive medical bills, the threat of natural disasters, telecommunications fraud and warrantless searches and seizures by customs agents.
However, the timing of the alert is somewhat suspicious given that the Trump administration is set to impose tariffs on Chinese goods Friday and China has threatened to retaliate with tariffs of its own, Reuters reported.
Nonetheless, China's Foreign Ministry maintains that it's obligated to keep Chinese nationals informed of potential risks ahead of the high season.
"This kind of reminder from the Chinese embassy in the relevant country, I think this is absolutely a matter that is in the scope of our duty," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said during a news briefing Tuesday.
China is among the U.S.' top inbound visitation markets, accounting for nearly 8 percent of the destination's international visitors in 2016, according to the U.S. Travel Association. What's more, Chinese travelers spend, on average-$6,900 per trip to the U.S.-more than those visitors from any other major inbound market.
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