[Venue-selection] Beijing and Shenzhen

[Eliot Lear <[e-mail]>]

I would prefer not to go to either Beijing or Shenzhen for the following 
reasons:

Beijing and Shenzhen fail three important tests specified in RFC 8718:

    *  Economic, safety, and health risks associated with this Venue are
       acceptable.
[...]
    *  Travel barriers to entry, including visa requirements, are likely
       to be such that an overwhelming majority of participants who wish
       to do so can attend.  The term "travel barriers" is to be read
       broadly by the IASA in the context of whether a successful meeting
       can be had.

  * According to the US State Department, “The PRC government
    arbitrarily enforces local laws, including issuing exit bans on U.S.
    citizens and citizens of other countries without fair and
    transparent process under the law.” Their rating of the country is 3
    or “Reconsider Travel”.[1]  The Irish Embassy has a similar warning
    with regard to exit bans:

        /Chinese authorities may place an exit ban on an individual to
        prevent them from leaving the country. An exit ban may be placed
        on an individual in connection with an investigation into that
        individual, their family or an employer; or in a criminal or
        civil matter, including a business dispute. Such bans, which are
        distinct from detention or imprisonment, are part of the Chinese
        legal process and may endure for months, or longer./[2]

  * Furthermore, I have received a written safety briefing that
    indicates that the Chinese government will spy on visitors.  To
    quote that briefing: //

        /Travelers should have no expectation of privacy while in China,
        due to the country’s//sophisticated cyber capabilities and
        proven track record of surveilling its citizens and//travelers
        domestically as well as internationally./

    To travel to either of these cities, I am encouraged to procure an
    additional laptop and phone, and I would need to limit access to my
    corporate network.  This means that I would be limited in my
    day-to-day business.

Eliot

[1] 
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/china-travel-advisory.html

[2] https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/china/