Two Americans detained in east China

Two Americans who run an English-teaching business in China have been detained in the east of the country, according to their company, which said they were being held on "bogus" charges.

Jacob Harlan, a father of five, and Alyssa Petersen were nabbed in Jiangsu province last month, their Idaho-based company China Horizons said on its Facebook page.

A gofundme.com page set up to raise money for Petersen's legal fees says she was formally charged with "illegally moving people across borders".

The detentions come amid diplomatic and trade tensions between China and the United States.

"We are aware of the detention of two US citizens in Jiangsu, China and the charges being brought against them by the provincial government," a US State Department official said on condition of anonymity.

"We take seriously our responsibility to assist US citizens abroad and are monitoring the situation."
China Horizons said on Facebook last week that the pair "are being charged for bogus crimes and their families are working on getting them international lawyers to help them get back home to the States."
"She cannot have any contact with anyone outside of a Consulate Officer who can visit once a month and a Lawyer."