Pompeo "Considering Travel Ban to China"

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, hinted that travel restrictions to China could be imposed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

On the 29th (local time), according to The Washington Post, Secretary Pompeo said on his private plane in the morning, in response to reporters' questions about "whether a travel ban to China is being considered," "It is not appropriate to comment before a decision is made," but added, "The relevant authorities are monitoring changes in the situation to determine whether to change the travel advisory level." He stated, "A travel ban is also under consideration."

The U.S. State Department has advised against travel to China and issued a travel ban alert for Wuhan and Hubei Province, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

However, he added, "The U.S. government is carefully monitoring the outbreak and there is no need for an excessive response," and "The U.S. government is making tremendous efforts to protect Americans and reduce global risk."

Meanwhile, Secretary Pompeo had a phone conversation with Yang Jiechi, member of the Central Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party in charge of foreign affairs, and expressed gratitude for cooperating with the evacuation of Americans from the Wuhan area.

The U.S. charter plane carrying about 200 people, including staff and families from the U.S. Consulate in Wuhan, departed Wuhan on the same day, refueled in Anchorage, and then headed to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, California. The passengers are scheduled to be quarantined in the base's logistics warehouse.