4 Iowa lecturers teaching at a Chinese university were attacked in a park

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – Four Iowa college faculty members teaching in China were attacked while visiting a public park, Cornell College confirmed Monday.

Jonathan Brand, president of Cornell College, said in a statement that the teachers were in the park with a faculty member from Beihua University when the attack occurred. Cornell spokeswoman Jen Visser said in an email that the private school in Mount Vernon works with Beihua University near the eastern Chinese city of Jilin.

Details about the nature of the attack, the extent of the lecturers’ injuries and whether the attack was targeted or accidental were unclear Monday. Visser said the college was still gathering information about the incident.

U.S. Rep. Mariannette Jane Miller-Meeks of Iowa wrote in a social media post that she was trying to reach the U.S. Embassy to ensure the victims received good medical care and could return to the United States as soon as possible.

The attack came amid Beijing and Washington’s efforts to maintain people-to-people exchanges to prevent a breakdown in bilateral relations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has unveiled a plan to invite 50,000 young Americans to China over the next five years, but Chinese diplomats say a travel warning from the U.S. State Department is deterring Americans from traveling to China.

Citing arbitrary detentions as well as travel bans that could prevent Americans from leaving the country, the State Department has issued a Level 3 travel advisory – the second-highest level of alert – for mainland China and urged Americans to “reconsider travel there.” Some American universities have suspended their China programs due to the travel advisory.