A major multinational corporation halted all travel on Thursday amid reports that one of its employees was prevented from leaving the country.

Wells Fargo suspended travel to China after employee Cheney Mao was stopped from departing. According to reports, the bank is probing the matter and is actively working to facilitate Mao’s return to the United States.

Mao Zedong, a seasoned banker and managing director at Wells Fargo, is said to have been detained by Chinese authorities during a recent visit. Sources familiar with the situation indicated that he had been issued an exit ban while in China. The bank stated it is navigating the appropriate channels to resolve the issue.

“We are closely monitoring this situation and are working through the necessary channels to ensure that our employees can return to the US as swiftly as possible,” Wells Fargo mentioned.

Mao, originally from Shanghai and now a US citizen residing in Atlanta, plays a significant role in Wells Fargo’s international factoring business, engaging with Chinese companies on trade financing and cross-border capital strategies. However, the reasons behind his detention remain unclear as Chinese authorities have not provided any official explanation.

The US government has chosen not to comment on the incident due to privacy concerns, but it has raised alarms among multinational companies regarding the safety of their employees in China.

Beijing has enforced travel restrictions that affect both foreign nationals and Chinese citizens. Generally, these restrictions are aimed at individuals entangled in civil litigation, rather than those suspected of criminal acts. Authorities may impose exit bans to aid in investigations, target dissidents, or negotiate with foreign entities. These bans can persist for extended periods, sometimes lasting months or even years.

Wells Fargo did not promptly respond to inquiries from news outlets.