Originally Posted by Loren Pechtel
Her passport isn't valid for travel to China. It has nothing to do with US rules, it's China's rules. They won't let you in with a passport good for less than 6 months. We are going to have to replace our passports a little early because of this rule.
I think you're missing fact that her friend is traveling FROM China TO US. So in this case, it is US rules.
(But same principle applies... almost countries have rules that your passport must be valid for some amount of months AFTER your expected departure date)