China has introduced expanded travel restrictions that could prevent some citizens from leaving the country for up to three years, particularly in cases involving national security, national interests, industrial security and technological security.
The new rules give authorities greater powers to restrict overseas travel by people considered a potential risk. Officials are also required to advise Chinese citizens against travelling to destinations classified as high-risk. The measures come as China maintains close oversight of strategically important industries, including semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
Travel controls have already affected some groups, including civil servants and employees of state-owned enterprises. Some workers have reportedly been required to surrender their passports and obtain approval before travelling abroad, with tourism requests potentially facing greater scrutiny than family visits.
Data cited by the BBC from Safeguard Defenders indicates that exit bans have increased sharply in recent years. Records mentioning exit bans in China’s Supreme Court database rose from 89 in 2016 to 188,760 last year, while the share of civil cases involving such restrictions also increased significantly.
Professor Tom Kellogg of Georgetown University’s Center for Asian Law said the expanding restrictions raise serious concerns about government control over citizens’ activities abroad. Chinese authorities, meanwhile, say the rules are intended to prevent illegal activities, scams and other risks involving overseas travel.
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