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As President Donald Trump and hundreds of aides, security personnel and officials prepare to travel to China, many will leave behind one of the most basic tools of modern government: their everyday cell phones.
Instead, officials entering China often take with them “clean” unlocked devices, makeshift laptops and tightly controlled communications systems designed to reduce the risk of surveillance, hacking or data collection in what US officials consider one of the world’s most aggressive cyberspaces.
Safety measures can turn even routine tasks into a headache. Messages that typically travel quickly through encrypted apps or synced devices are routed through controlled channels, temporary accounts or manually forwarded.
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Contacts disappear. Cloud access is limited. Some officers work days without their usual digital footprints.
Current and former officials say the moves reflect a long-standing mindset in the US government: anything brought into China — phones, laptops, tablets or hotel Wi-Fi connections — should be considered potentially vulnerable.
As President Donald Trump and hundreds of aides, security officials and officials prepare to travel to China this week, many will leave behind one of the basic tools of modern government: their daily telephone calls. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)
“China is a very surveillance country,” said Bill Gage, a former Secret Service special agent and now executive director of Safehaven Security Group. “American officials are notified first before the president arrives, and they make it clear that everything is under surveillance.”
“We always tell people to consider everything you say and do — in person and digitally — can be tracked,” said Theresa Payton, former White House chief of information and CEO of cybersecurity firm Fortalice Solutions. “And behave in the right way.”
Ahead of Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the digital security measures underscore the broader mistrust building in the relationship between Washington and Beijing, where concerns about cybersecurity, espionage and surveillance now pervade almost every aspect of official interaction.
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Security measures will go beyond government officials. Trump’s delegation is expected to include executives from major American companies, including Apple, Boeing, Qualcomm and BlackRock – companies that operate at the center of US-China economic and technological relations.
In Washington, officials are often told to leave their phones behind when entering places like the Chinese Embassy. That same concern grows when you go to China itself, where American officials operate under the assumption that devices, networks and hotel rooms can be monitored.
Even charging a phone can be a security issue.
Federal cybersecurity guidance has long warned travelers to avoid plugging devices into unknown USB ports or untrusted charging systems because vulnerable hardware can be used to extract data or install malicious software — a tactic often referred to as “juice jacking.”
As a result, officials traveling to high-risk countries often carry pre-approved chargers, external battery packs and government-issued supplies rather than relying on local infrastructure.
“There is no secure electronic communication in China,” Gage said, noting that officials are advised to limit digital work to what is necessary for the job.
The Chinese government has dismissed claims of improper surveillance.
“In China, personal privacy is protected by law,” Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu told Fox News Digital. “The Chinese government prioritizes protecting data privacy and security in accordance with the law. It has never required—and will never require—businesses or individuals to collect or store data that violates the law.”
“China is a very surveillance country,” said Bill Gage, a former Secret Service special agent and now executive director of Safehaven Security Group. “American officials are notified first before the president arrives, and they make it clear that everything is under surveillance.” (Stock)
Payton said officers may also be given temporary devices modified with known “golden images,” allowing security teams to see if a device has been tampered with or accessed during a trip.
“You may see managers handing out loaner phones with a well-known ‘golden’ image, meaning security teams can compare the device before and after use to see if it has been tampered with,” he said.
“There may be controlled ‘safe zones’ where officials can communicate with the US, but everything is tightly controlled,” Payton said.
When critical discussions need to take place, planning becomes even more difficult.
US officials traveling overseas often rely on temporary sensitive information facilities, or SCIFs – secure spaces designed to prevent electronic surveillance and wiretapping. Such facilities may be established within hotels or other controlled areas during major official visits.
“The White House’s Office of Defense and communications teams are creating controlled environments where they can monitor both physical and digital access to ensure that sensitive communications remain secure,” Payton said.
Security measures can create a surprisingly analog environment for a modern presidential team. Paper documents are becoming the norm, digital access is limited and services that are used to constant communication often operate through tightly controlled channels.
Officials entering China often travel with unlocked “clean” devices, makeshift laptops and tightly controlled communications systems designed to reduce the risk of surveillance, hacking or data collection in what US officials consider one of the world’s most aggressive cyberspaces. (Stock)
The White House was not immediately available for comment.
US officials have spent years warning about China’s cyber espionage campaigns targeting US government agencies, critical infrastructure, defense contractors and telecommunications networks.
Intelligence officials have accused hackers linked to Beijing of hacking everything from government systems to power grids and water utilities, while repeatedly trying to gather information on top US officials and policymakers.
“China will conduct extensive background checks on every member of the American team – from senior officials to junior staff,” Gage said, explaining the level of intelligence directed at officials who are warned before departure.
Payton said the high-profile nature of the president’s visit only increases the risk.
“This is a very publicized event, so you have to think that everything from states to opportunistic actors might try to listen in,” he said.
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The issue came to public attention in 2023, when an alleged Chinese surveillance balloon overran the continental United States before being shot down by US forces after passing through sensitive military locations. US officials later said the balloon was part of a surveillance effort linked to Beijing.
Recently, government officials have warned about sophisticated China-linked cyber groups such as Volt Typhoon and Salt Typhoon, which US authorities say target critical infrastructure and communications systems in ways that could support espionage or disruption during future conflicts.
