Alert: Maintain vigilence with regards to your surroundings

Alert for U.S. Citizens: Maintain vigilence with regards to your surroundings

OCTOBER 13, 2023

An Israeli diplomat was stabbed today in the Chaoyang District of Beijing.  The U.S. Embassy does not have details on the motivation of the attacker, but a former Hamas leader has called for October 13th to be a “day of rage,” sparking caution in numerous countries around the world.  The U.S. Embassy is not aware of specific threats to U.S. citizens but recommends maintaining vigilance with regard to personal security.

Tips for Personal Security Awareness: 

Below are some examples of what you can do daily to reduce your vulnerability:

• Be aware of your surroundings.
  
  

• Have emergency numbers programmed into your mobile phones and written down near your home phone.
  
  

• Vary departure and arrival times and routes to and from work, residences, and performing repetitive errands. Even as little as 5-minutes of variation can be enough to disrupt any group or individuals who might be targeting you for harassment or violence.
  
  

• Don’t set a pattern of frequenting the same hotels, restaurants, shops, or clubs, especially if they are largely patronized by expatriates or diplomats.
  
  

• Keep a low profile and do not draw attention to yourself.
  
  

• When crossing heavily trafficked crosswalks or service lanes beware of impatient, possibly hostile motorcyclists, scooter riders, and cyclists.
  
  

• Make sure your colleagues and family are aware of your daily plans and that they know how to reach you.
  
  

• Always lock your car (even when driving) and don’t leave valuables in plain view. Use the “clean car” policy.
  
  

• In pedestrian traffic, always be aware of personnel in front and behind you, and try to scan their hands and eyes.
  
  

• If you are being followed or harassed, try to find the nearest police station, hotel, or other public facility, and call the police at 110. Never lead the person back to your home. Try to avoid direct confrontation with the individual.
  
  

• Keep your doors locked and windows closed in your residence, hotel, or vacation lodgings.
  
  

• Have conversations with your family members on security measures and best practices.

Assistance:

• U.S. Embassy Beijing, China 

Telephone: +(86)(10) 8531-4000 

Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(86)(10) 8531-4000 

Email: [email protected] 

• U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou, China 

Telephone: +(86)(20) 3814-5775 

Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(86)(10) 8531-4000 

Email: [email protected] 

• U.S. Consulate General Shanghai, China 

Telephone: +(86)(21) 8011-2400 

Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(86)(10) 8531-4000 

Email: [email protected] 

• U.S. Consulate General Shenyang, China 

Telephone: +(86)(24) 2322-1198 

Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(86)(24) 2322-1198 

Email: [email protected] 

• U.S. Consulate General Wuhan, China (Emergency U.S. Citizen Services ONLY) 

Telephone: +(86)(27) 8555-7791 

Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(86)(10) 8531-4000 

Email: [email protected] 

• Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program   (STEP) (http://step.state.gov/) to receive security updates 
  
  

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