On Tuesday, the US Embassy issued a China-wide warning to US citizens informing them to be vigilant on account of "heightened tension in the Middle East." The warning comes amid growing tensions between the US and Iran after US President Donald Trump ordered a drone strike on the envoy of Revolutionary Guard commander Qassim Suleimani on Jan 3, killing him and several other personnel.

Iran, making good on their threat to retaliate for the killing of Suleimani, a much-revered figure in his home country, has since attacked two military bases in Iraq where US troops are positioned. Following the initial attack on Suleimani, all American citizens were advised to leave Iran.

The notice to US citizens in China states that the embassy will "continue to review the security situation and will provide additional information as needed." Additionally, the notice states several actions that citizens should take so as to best protect themselves, which include:

Keep a low profile.

Be aware of your surroundings.

Stay alert in locations frequented by tourists.

Review your personal security plans.

Have travel documents up to date and easily accessible.

While these security recommendations are mostly vague to the point of useless, the China country information page of the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs website provides links and advice including information about how to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for US citizens living abroad.

The last notable warning from the US Embassy came in July last year, when a disgruntled Chinese citizen attempted to throw an explosive device over the fence of the US Embassy near Liangmaqiao. No bystanders were harmed in the incident, with only the assailant suffering burns to his hand.

In addition to the politically fueled safety warning, the consulate also sent out a separate notice on Jan 7 about the outbreak of a mysterious strain of pneumonia in Wuhan, Hubei province, advising people to "Avoid animals (alive or dead), animal markets, and products that come from animals (such as uncooked meat)." There have been 59 confirmed cases so far.

For up-to-date information, please refer to the US Embassy and Consulate's official website.

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Image: diplomacy.state.gov