US Officials Use ‘Clean Phones’ and Tight Security During Trump’s China Visit
US officials traveling with Donald Trump to China are reportedly operating under strict “digital lockdown” measures due to growing fears of surveillance and cyber espionage.
According to former intelligence and security officials, many members of the US delegation are leaving behind personal phones and laptops, instead using temporary “clean devices” with limited access and tightly controlled communications.
Security experts warned that American officials assume nearly everything inside China — including hotel Wi-Fi, electronic devices, and communications systems — could be monitored.
Former Secret Service agent Bill Gage described China as a “mass surveillance state,” saying officials are briefed before travel that “everything is monitored.”
The strict precautions come ahead of Trump’s high-stakes meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as tensions between Washington and Beijing continue over cybersecurity, trade, and global security issues.
US officials are also reportedly avoiding public charging stations and using approved government equipment to reduce risks linked to hacking and “juice jacking.”
Chinese officials denied allegations of improper surveillance, insisting the country protects personal privacy under its laws.