China reacts angrily to US travel warning

China has issued a furious protest at a US State Department warning to American travellers of Chinese origin.

The Chinese say it was "irresponsible" and an attempt to sabotage Chinese Americans' relations with Beijing.

The response comes as it's revealed that a fifth Chinese-born intellectual is being held in a sweeping anti-espionage campaign.

Observers say the detention of the American writer is part of a disturbing new pattern of seizing anyone with access to sensitive information about the government.

The US State Department's travel warning cautions Chinese-born Americans that they risk being detained in China if they have been involved in dissident activities or published writings critical of the Chinese government.

It also warns of risks to those who have traveled to Taiwan, which China regards as a rebel province, or had contact with Taiwan media organizations.

Insisting the detainees were a tiny minority who had broken Chinese law, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue demanded Washington "correct the mistake and take measures to eliminate the negative effects created by the so-called warning," the government's Xinhua News Agency said.

"The announcement of the so-called 'risk' is an attempt to sow discord in relations between Chinese Americans and others and China. This is extremely wrong and irresponsible," Zhang was quoted as saying.

Her statement followed reports of the detention of Wu Jianmin, a US citizen, on April 8 on suspicion of espionage. Wu is the latest in a string of US citizens or US permanent residents detained in China on suspicion of spying.

The US Embassy in Beijing say police informed them of Wu's detention on April 14, saying he was under investigation for spying on behalf of Taiwan.