China denies detention of two American teachers has ‘concrete link’ to tensions with US
- Beijing confirms Alyssa Petersen and Jacob Harlan were held on suspicion of illegally moving people across borders
- Pair were owner and director of China Horizons programme, which has been sending teachers to the country for 17 years
China confirmed on Thursday that two American teachers had been detained on suspicion of “illegally moving people across borders” but denied there was any “concrete link” to the continuing tensions between Beijing and Washington.
Geng Shuang, a spokesman for the foreign ministry in Beijing, said Alyssa Petersen and Jacob Harlan had been detained by the public security bureau in the eastern province of Jiangsu on September 27 and 29 respectively and were still under investigation.
When asked if their cases were linked to tensions between China and the US, Geng said he did “not see any concrete links”.
He did not elaborate on their current location or condition.
Chinese authorities had informed the US consulate general in Shanghai and arranged for consular visits for the pair and their rights were being protected, he continued.
