The Chinese government has introduced a number of new travel regulations covering the entry into and departure from China of its citizens. In cases where individuals are deemed to have harmed national security or the national interest while staying abroad, they may be prohibited from leaving the country for up to 3 years. Travel advisories for high-risk countries and expanded restrictions on officials and civil servants have also been introduced.
On the 15th, the Chinese government introduced several new rules tightening entry and exit controls on the country’s citizens. Individuals deemed to have “harmed” national security or the national interest while staying abroad may be prohibited from leaving the country for up to 3 years.
The new rules also apply to people regarded as posing security threats in areas such as semiconductors and AI amid intensifying competition over technological supremacy. They require immigration authorities to issue advisories against travel to countries and regions considered high-risk. Some observers say similar restrictions may also apply to civil servants, employees of state-owned enterprises and the general public.
According to testimony from some people involved in their implementation and data from international organizations, there have previously been cases in which individuals were required to surrender their passports and had their overseas travel restricted. Observers say the expansion of the rules suggests an intention by the government to exert tighter control over its citizens’ conduct abroad.
Records of departure bans have increased year after year, rising from 89 cases in 2016 to approximately 188,760 last year, according to Supreme People’s Court data. The number of cases in which civil court rulings are held in abeyance has also increased alongside the growth in litigation volume.