USA or China a safer tourist destination?

[nOlives]

Yesterday the news suggested Starmer and Xi Jinping were discussing visaless entry to China for Brits.
I know China is not perfect and I have occasionally mentioned or agreed with comments about Uyghurs. I am not Uyghur or Taiwanese.
I have also posted and agreed with quite a lot of comments about Trump, and also USA gun tragedies and airport experiences. I am white British.

AIBU to think China is a safer (and far more interesting) tourist destination than USA just now, not only for me but for most people?

Nope. I am asking a PP about who was jailed.

Both can be true, a place can have a very peaceful and content society, precisely because everyone knows the rules and they're not up for debate

What did happen, exactly? (Or where can I reliably learn)

It depends who you are. China has 5.8 million people living in slavery so whilst there may be significant issues in US at the moment, at least they are not carrying out a genocide of Uyghurs.

My DD’s went to China - but they went to stay with a friend, ie at a private address. What neither they nor the friend knew was that you have to check in with the police within 24 hours of arriving. They didn’t, so a policeman turned up at the door - fortunately their friend speaks Chinese. They were put under house arrest for 48 hours once they had been to the police station (which took three hours) so everything could be checked. Suffice to say it rather took the shine off their time there! A warning, though, for anyone else who’s going to visit and not staying in a hotel. You are required to do this even if you are staying in a hotel, but I understand that normally, the hotel does it for you.

I've been to both and felt much safer in China. I travelled (partly alone) through China and never felt threatened or uneasy. The people (outside of the big cities) were so nice, too. On the other hand, I've been to Texas a few times (for work) and all those guns always make me feel scared. I was also stopped by the police while driving once and they pointed a gun at my face because I didn't put my hands on the wheel immediately, I almost peed my pants.

Fun fact: My employer forbids us to bring our work phones and computers to specific listed countries, due to industrial espionage. The issue us new "clean" devices if we have to travel there for work. China has always been on that list but last year, the US have been added to it - it's wild how a country can degenerate so quickly.

Well, they inform you about that when they issue your visa, and the airports are plastered with posters reminding people to do just that... Some airlines even hand out the info while on the plane. So honestly, it's on them.

What’s nonsense about it? Are people not sent to camps? Do you have the right to freely criticise the government?

It’s weird that people are coming back on these criticisms by saying how advanced the country is, as if we don’t think it has many developed cities.

I’m American (haven’t lived there in 15 years, got out as soon as somewhere else would take me!) and have travelled in China.

I can’t say I loved China, but it’s very safe. It’s very draconian, but not towards foreigners generally. The US has a high crime rate, much more on par with South Africa. You have to watch your back constantly. I don’t miss that feeling.

I wouldn’t be thrilled to go to either (I no longer have a valid US passport as I only use it for US travel), but I wouldn’t feel unsafe in China.

China felt incredibly safe to me when I visited last year. I disagree with PP that it felt ‘draconian’ at all… it seemed very normal. Shops, people drinking booze on the beach having fun, karaoke, fun fairs, restaurants, late night bars. Didn’t see any police or anything outside of airports/trains. Only extra rules were that you needed your passport to buy train/bus tickets and it acted as your ticket into attractions.

I have travelled to many places.

China is the place I felt the safest, despite the insane language barrier. I traveled all over on night trains etc, alone with a young child. I didn’t feel unsafe once.

I felt very safe in the USA too though.

DS lives in US. Where he is, it's very safe indeed. The whole of the US has not turned overnight into gun-totin' Trump acolytes. I'll still go there to visit him. DS might prefer to be elsewhere but it's where the work is right now and he doesn't feel in any danger and is heartily sick of people asking if he does.

I have travelled alone in both countries. Purely in terms of safety, China is really very safe for a lone female traveller and despite the language barrier, people do go out of their way to be helpful.

China will be super safe

US def more dangerous but not significantly more so than the UK I don’t think.

that said, I found China quite stressful to navigate and I’m not sure would rush back

@MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack
I've been to China. It was fascinating and I felt very safe

You weren’t at all concerned about the CCP’s appalling human rights?

I wonder how many people praising China and recommending visits would say the same about say Dubai?

Agreed. People are free to go on holiday where they like, including to repressive regimes. But to minimise the extent of the repression makes no sense.

A country can be both safe for tourists and repressive for dissidents / minority communities etc.

Also there's growing unrest in China, so another Tien an Men square situation is probably only a few years away.

The touristy areas of the US are usually fine such as Manhattan, Miami beaches etc. I've never had a problem there. Respect the local rules and laws like you would visiting any country and you'll be fine.

I do think some people do get far too wrapped up in politics that it takes over their lives to an extent but if course you free to do so if that's how you want to lead your life.

Agreed. People are free to go on holiday where they like, including to repressive regimes. But to minimise the extent of the repression makes no sense.

I agree and the hypocrisy is remarkable. As far as I can gather:
Authoritarian monarchy or right wing government: how shocking you are even considering going there.
Authoritarian nominal communist government such as China or Cuba: oh it’s so interesting/ beautiful/ the people are lovely - looking forward to returning for another trip.

Thank you for the many interesting and helpful comments. I have learned a few things about both countries.
To the poster who said I was shockingly self absorbed to consider my own safety when choosing a holiday destination, well, LoL.
As I said I am white British, I do not work for the government or anywhere else that might be diplomatically sensitive, and I would (obviously?) not be going on about religion or the politics of the country whilst there, or doing any sort of activism. I totally accept that if I had a different race/job/activism profile I should probably not go to either place.
I do worry about another COVID situation in China or indeed on a cruiseship. I was considering my first ever cruise in 2018 and have shelved that idea for fear of being stuck.
Thank you to the poster who pointed out that the new unpredictable government violence and detentions are not affecting everywhere in the USA. I'd worry though that a lot of it is focused at borders, which are not avoidable as a tourist.

There seems to be a consesus even among the outraged that China would be safe for a sensible tourist.

Would never go to China. I’m black and they are very racist. Plus I don’t support their politics.

If you do go to China make sure not to pack any Winnie the Pooh PJs.

I wouldn't go near the place myself, lots of other better places in Asia to visit, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan etc etc

And why would you think the US is unsafe for a tourist?

I lived in China for twelve years and felt very safe and didn’t hesitate to go out in the evening on my own. Of course, it would be naive not to acknowledge that there are strict controls in place and the government is prompt to respond to any ‘issues’.
As a tourist the only real danger is getting ripped off in a market or by a taxi driver or having your pocket picked. Pretty much the same risk in any large city.
With regard to freedom of speech and commenting on government policies in China, I would talk openly with some Chinese friends and colleagues if they initiated such a discussion, but as a guest in the country I would not offend my friends my making derogatory comments.
I loved my time in China and it is the most amazing country and I was treated with respect and people were friendly. My behaviour was also respectful and generally friendly! I also speak mandarin (not brilliantly!) and was more than capable of holding my own in a more challenging situation. I am also white and this undoubtedly made a difference.
If you live in China, you follow the rules, which is fine and no different to how I behave in the UK. There are situations where it is unwise to argue or express your opinion and a colleague of my husband’s found that out the hard way. You don’t argue particularly when you are in the wrong - defending someone who has overstayed their visa is not a wise move in any country!
I have been to Xinjiang province and it is much more tightly controlled than other provinces in China and is probably the only place where I felt uncomfortable and returned to my hotel early in the evening.

Less crime in China. But it's a dictatorship. British visitors are likely to be fine unless they are there for political or religious reasons

Winnie the Pooh PJs? @wombat1a