The American children of one of China’s most-wanted fugitives are barred from leaving the country.
Chinese officials have defended their decision to bar three US citizens from leaving the country, saying they are suspected of «economic crimes».
Victor and Cynthia Liu, children of a fugitive businessman, and their mother, Sandra Han, have been detained since June, the New York Times reported.
The US Department of State confirmed to the BBC that they are in «close contact» with the adult Liu children.
Their father, Liu Changming, is wanted in a $1.4bn (£1bn) fraud case in China.
«As we understand it from the relevant authorities, these people you have mentioned all have legal and valid identity documents as Chinese citizens,» Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters at a news conference, according to the Agence France-Presse.
«They are suspected of having committed economic crimes and have been restricted from leaving China by Chinese police.»
A US Department of State official told the BBC in an emailed statement that they are «in close contact» with Mr and Ms Liu and are providing «all appropriate consular services».
