SUBJECT:

TO:
FROM:

Risk Assessment of MIIS Spring 2017 Seminar: East Asia: Foreign Policy, Trade, and Security
Director Carolyn Meyer, Prof. Paige Butler, Prof. Tsuneo Akaha, Prof. Wei Liang
Morgan Rawlings, Mc Kenna Hughes, Yuki Ueda, David Malacki, Ruxin Zheng

Introduction
This memo outlines the risks and mitigating measures necessary for the East Asia Seminar on Foreign Policy,
Trade, and Security. This memo and the attached matrix will advise the faculty leaders as to what risks are
associated with traveling to China and Japan and how best to prepare themselves and the students for them.

Overall Risk Score: Medium-Low

Overall, the risk involved with traveling to China and Japan for the East Asia Spring Seminar is medium-low. The
highest risks are detailed below and include: health-related issues, alcohol and drug use, petty crime, and
handicap accessibility. Medium and low risks include: environmental challenges, transportation, terrorism,
emergency communication, and legal concerns (see Appendix 1 for detailed recommendations on all risks).
There are currently no US State Department travel advisories or warnings for China or Japan. If precautions are
taken, such as a comprehensive pre-departure orientation, risks are minimal for students and faculty.

I. Health-Related Issues
Health related issues are the highest risk for travellers to China and Japan. Gastrointestinal issues are the
number one risk due to water and food safety concerns, particularly in China.1 The CDC advises against
drinking tap water or eating street food in China. In addition, poor air quality and springtime allergens can
pose problems for those who suffer from asthma or severe allergies.
Recommendations: Require proof of health insurance with overseas coverage. Identify English-speaking,
quality health care providers in Beijing and Tokyo prior to departure. Educate students on safe eating and
drinking habits2 and encourage students to bring anti-diarrheal and other necessary medications.

II. Alcohol & Drug Use

Alcohol is relatively inexpensive in Beijing and Tokyo,3 and students may exercise poor judgment in relation to
alcohol consumption in social settings. In China, counterfeit alcohol is prevalent and can also pose health
risks.4 Illicit drug use is also rising in both nations and within China, intravenous drug use is a major contributor
to the increase of Hepatitis and HIV.5 Both China and Japan have severe penalties for drug possession,
trafficking, and usage, and can lead to: incarceration, large fines, deportation, and possibly the death penalty.6
Recommendations: During orientation, agree on group norms for professional behavior during both sponsored
activities and free time. Educate students on differences in local social norms and laws. Encourage students to
avoid areas where drugs are more prevalent (e.g. nightlife areas).

Hillary Pettegrew. United Educators Perspectives on Study Abroad Programming: Considering Risk Before Your Set Sail. The Forum on
Education Abroad. 2005.
2
CDC. July 2015. http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/china
3
Global Alcohol Prices, http://www.globalalcoholprices.com/alcohol_prices/
4
Jamie Fullerton. Bathtub booze and knock-off whisky: inside China's fake alcohol industry. The Guardian. 2015.
https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/sep/16/china-fake-alcohol-industry-counterfeit-bathtub-booze-whisky
5
Sheldon X. Zhang and Ko-lin Chin. A Peoples War: Chinas Struggle to Contain its Illicit Drug Problem
https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/A-Peoples-War-final.pdf
6
US Department of State. September 2016. https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/china.html

III. Petty Crime

Beijing and Tokyo both have low rates of violent crime, but like other urban areas have relatively high rates of
petty crimes like pickpocketing and credit card fraud. Foreigners are common targets, especially in crowded
areas like shopping centers, bars/nightclubs, and transportation hubs. Thieves commonly target passports, cell
phones, cameras, and other high-value portable items.7 The possibility of tourist scams is also great in China,
the threat is largely financial, but the reaction of the student is important to ensure their safety and well-being.
Recommendations: Advise students on risks and suggest tips to deter petty crime. While students are on-site,
remind students to stay in groups, avoid high-risk areas, and be vigilant if travel to high-risk areas is necessary.

IV. Handicap Accessibility

Participants with limited mobility may find accessibility to be a challenge. In Beijing, crossing the street often
requires using pedestrian bridges that are accessible only by stairs. It can also be difficult to find handicapaccessible restrooms outside of five-star hotels.8 In Japan, laws mandate that new construction be handicapaccessible, however older buildings may remain inaccessible.9
Recommendations: Faculty should assess the handicap accessibility of destinations prior to departure. This
concern should be shared with students, and extra travel time should be built-in if certain routes must be
avoided.

Pre-Departure Orientation
A comprehensive pre-departure orientation is a key step in ensuring that students have clear expectations of
the goals, risks, and logistics of the program. Orientation can be held over several sessions, and should include:
A thorough review of the itinerary (from meeting in SF to arrival back in US)
Clear expectations on conducting research (e.g. networking, limited internet access in China)
Group norms of professionalism: alcohol consumption, dress code, punctuality, safety, etc.
An overview of the potential risks and ways to avoid them (e.g. safe eating and drinking habits, areas
to avoid, what (not) to bring)
Inform students of common tourist scams and prepare them for how to deescalate and respond in
those situations10
Crisis management protocols, emergency contact information of faculty and local emergency services11
Proof of health insurance coverage overseas12 - required
A liability waiver for non-sponsored activities - required
STEP enrollment13 - required
Student concerns & questions
Based on the considerations above, we recommend approval of this program.
Sincerely,
Morgan Rawlings, Mc Kenna Hughes, Yuki Ueda, David Malacki, Ruxin Zheng
7

OSAC April 2015. https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=19585

US Department of State. September 2016. https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/china.html
9
US Department of State. September 2016. https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/japan.html
10
China Travel Tips, Top 10 Tourist Scams Beijing , http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/china-travel/tourist-traps-in-china/top-10-touristscams-beijing, July 13, 2010.
11
Forum on Education Abroad, Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad, p10
12
Forum on Education Abroad, Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad, p10
13
Forum on Education Abroad, Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad, p10
8

Appendix 1: Risk Analysis Matrix, MIIS Spring 2017 Seminar: East Asia: Foreign Policy, Trade, and Security
Color code key: red for China, blue for Japan, black for both countries
Potential Issues

Alcohol and Drug

Use

Crime and
Violence

State Department
Travel Advisory or
Warnings
Political
Instability
Challenges
/Response

Risk Analysis

Notes & Considerations

China: MEDIUM
Japan: MEDIUM

Japan & China:

Alcohol easily accessible and inexpensive
Drugs present in bars areas
Strict drug policies

China: MEDIUM
Japan: LOW

China: NONE
Japan: NONE

China: MEDIUM
Japan: LOW

China:
Crime threats: Petty crime (e.g. pickpocketing) in crowded areas,
counterfeit money, illegal taxis, credit card fraud, tourist scams
High risk areas: Sanlitun, Houhai, Wangfujing, Tiananmen Square
Japan: very low crime rate
Crime threats: Personal disputes, theft, vandalism, credit card fraud, petty
crime (e.g. pickpocketing) in crowded areas
Drink-spiking & drug-assisted robbery/sexual assault
High risk areas: Shinjuku (especially the areas of Kabuki-cho, Shibuya, and
Ikebukuro, Roppongi)
Japan & China:
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
No specific travel alerts on the State Departments website
Call 1-202-501-4444 for US victims of crime overseas
China: Domestic unrest and terrorism do occur

TRED Recommendation
(Transfer, Reduce, Eliminate, Disclose)
Discuss group norms and legal
ramifications of drinking/drug use in
orientation
Choose hotels in locations far from highrisk areas

During orientation, advise students on

risks and suggest tips to deter
pickpocketing
Prepare students for possible tourist
scams and how to react if found in that
situation
While students are on-site, remind
students to stay in groups and avoid
high-risk areas

Require students to enroll in STEP

Advise students not to participate in

demonstrations per US State
Department recommendations.

Japan & China:

Local police and healthcare infrastructure are sound

Crisis
Management

Emergency
Communication

Environmental
Challenges/Disast
er Response

China: MEDIUM
Japan: MEDIUM

China: LOW
Japan: LOW

China: MEDIUM
Japan: MEDIUM

Japan:
Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) and tsunami warning system
U.S. Embassy in Tokyo
1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, Japan
Telephone: (03) 3224-5000
General Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
China:
U.S. Embassy in Beijing
No. 55 An Jia Lou Road, Chaoyang, Beijing, China
Telephone: (010) 8531-4000 within China; (011-8610) 8531-4000 from US
Chinese emergency numbers: English-speaking services rare
110 = police
119 = fire
120 = ambulance
For scams, file a police report and inform the US Embassy or a US
consulate
Japanese emergency numbers: English-speaking services in major urban areas
110 = police
119 = fire/ambulance - may not work from cell phones
English-speaking dispatchers may not be available
English-speaking medical facilities: http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/tacsmain.html
Japan & China:
Air quality challenges (pollution, airborne allergens)
China:
Low probability for natural disasters
Sandstorms are prevalent in Beijing in spring
Japan:
Active seismic region; earthquakes (9.0 north of Tokyo in 2011) and
tsunamis; Building, railway, and road constructions sufficient to minimize
collateral damage

During orientation, provide students

with contact information for faculty and
local emergency services
Encourage students to share contact
information with each other and stay in
groups
Require students to provide proof of
health insurance with overseas coverage
Develop a crisis management plan, in
the unlikely event of an environmental
or terrorist threat
Share elements of the crisis
management plan with students during
orientation

Distribute all emergency numbers in

pre-departure orientation meeting
Encourage students to stay in groups

Brief students on earthquake protocols

during orientation in the event of an
earthquake in Japan
Monitor weather forecasts and air
quality.
If air quality is extremely poor, use
masks

Fire Safety

Terrorism
Concerns

Kidnapping and
Hostage Threats

Legal Concerns

China: MEDIUM
Japan:
LOW/MEDIUM
China: LOW
Japan: LOW

China:
Standards exist, not always enforced
China:
Has occurred, mostly in ethnic minority populated areas
Japan:
No known indigenous terrorist organizations
No terrorist incidents in the last decade
In 2014, there was a rise of ISIL-related sympathizers

China: LOW
Japan: LOW
China: LOW
Japan: LOW

Medical/Physical
Health Response

China: MEDIUM
Japan: LOWMEDIUM

Mental Health
Support

China: HIGH
Japan: LOWMEDIUM

Japan & China:

Ensure all visas and passports align with legal requirements.
China:
Must register at local police station within 24 hours of arrival (most hotels
will do this)
China:
Most care providers only accept cash payments prior to treatment
(including emergency cases);
Hospitals in major cities may accept credit cards
Rh-negative blood may be difficult to obtain
Ambulances are often slow to arrive
Many commonly-used US drugs are not available in China; counterfeit,
low-quality knockoffs are prevalent
Japan:
Quality care, limited English speaking doctors
Concrete proof of ability to pay before they will treat
Medical caregivers require full payment at the time of treatment or proof of
the ability to pay before treating a foreigner
China: Generally unavailable outside urban areas, and care in urban areas is not
equal to US standards
Japan: Can be difficult to locate in major urban centers; generally is not available
outside of Japan's major cities

Upon arrival at hotel, determine a

meeting area in case of fire

Be vigilant around large gatherings in

China

Stay in groups

Ensure all students keep passports in

secure locations on persons

During orientation, provide students

with contact information for faculty,
students with local language proficiency,
and local emergency services
Identify English-speaking, quality health
care providers in Beijing and Tokyo prior
to departure.

During orientation, provide students

with contact information for faculty and
local emergency services


Potential
Discrimination
Threats

China: LOWMEDIUM
Japan: LOW

Sexual
Harassment and
Assault
Supporting
Students with
Special Needs and
Disabilities
Supporting
Students with
Special Needs and
Disabilities
U.S. Centers for
Disease Control
and Prevention
Abroad / World
Health
Organization

China: LOW
Japan: LOW

Tropical
Diseases/Special
Health Issues in
the Developing
World

Transportation
Safety

China: HIGH
Japan: MEDIUM

China: LGBTQ violence is rare

Japan: LGBTQ violence is rare

Japan & China:

Lack of support in both countries

China: HIGH
Japan: LOW

China: Air Quality Alerts

China: MEDIUM
Japan: LOW

Faculty must research host facilities

(hotels, tourist destinations, etc.), prior
to departure, to ensure all participants
are accommodated.

Faculty must provide support for

students

Monitor air quality. If air quality is

extremely poor, use masks

Ensure students know what vaccinations

are recommended

Advise students of transportation

concerns; Recommend hiring a trusted
driver for any excursions
If taking public transportation, stay in
groups

China: Generally not ADA Accessible

Japan: Certain facilities are available for people with disabilities

China & Japan:

HIGH

China (Beijing):
LOW
Japan (Tokyo):
LOW

Japan & China:

Hepatitis A, hepatitis B
If traveling outside of Beijing and Tokyo, additional vaccinations may be
needed
China:
Influenza and typhoid are prevalent in spring
Japan & China:
Advise students against riding bikes and motorcycles
In both countries vehicle accidents are common and accidents involving
pedestrians are also common

China: Traffic safety can be a concern

Japan: The overall public transportation is efficient and safe

During orientation, provide student with

potential discrimination issues
Encourage students to remain in groups
to lessen possible discrimination
targeting

Water Safety

Other Challenges,
Risks or
Considerations:

China: HIGH
Japan: LOW

China: Tap water must be boiled before drinking

Japan: Tap water is safe to drink
China:
US-China/China-Japan relations may become sensitive topics when major
events occur (e.g. recent arbitration on south china sea). Potential
subsequent effects include: delay of permission to enter/leave the
country; hatred behaviors (refusal to service, violence); availability of
access to partners/speakers, etc.
VPN: Needed in order to access some international websites within China
(Gmail, Google Drive, Google Doc, etc.)
Students will need to bring their own toilet paper with them on outings
Japan:
Confusion between host-home country laws, (e.g. carrying a pocket knife is
illegal)

During orientation and upon arrival in

China, ensure all students only drink
sealed, bottle water.

During orientation, ensure students are

aware of sensitive current events,
cultural norms, and need for adequate
clothing
Faculty should take a first-aid kit in case
of minor injuries.
Advise students that many local vendors
may only take cash (not credit card).

Appendix 2: Risk Assessment References

Jamie Fullerton. Bathtub booze and knock-off whisky: inside China's fake alcohol industry. The Guardian. 2015. https://www.theguardian.com/sustainablebusiness/2015/sep/16/china-fake-alcohol-industry-counterfeit-bathtub-booze-whisky
Center for Disease Control. 2015. http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/china.
Global Alcohol Prices. http://www.globalalcoholprices.com/alcohol_prices/
Hillary Pettegrew. United Educators Perspectives on Study Abroad Programming: Considering Risk Before Your Set Sail. The Forum on Education Abroad.
2005.
OSAC.April 2015. https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=19585.
Sheldon X. Zhang and Ko-lin Chin. A Peoples War: Chinas Struggle to Contain its Illicit Drug Problem https://www.brookings.edu/wpcontent/uploads/2016/07/A-Peoples-War-final.pdf
Tour-Beijing China Travel Tips. Top 10 Tourist Scams Beijing. July 2010. http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/china-travel/tourist-traps-in-china/top-10-touristscams-beijing
US Department of State. September 2016. https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/china.html
US Department of State. September 2016. https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/japan.html
Additional Resources:

US Dept of State: China, Japan

OSAC: China recent reports, China Crime and Safety Report, Japan Recent Reports, Japan Crime and Safety Report

SAFETI: Program Audit checklist, Adapted Peace Corps Resources

CDC: Travel to China, Travel to Japan

WHO: China Profile, Road Safety

NAFSA Responsible Study Abroad

Forum Standard 8

Diversity Abroad: Health & Safety, LGBTQ

Mobility International USA: Articles on Health and Safety

Saras Wish Foundation