China tightens travel restrictions for citizens

China has recently implemented new travel restrictions, intensifying the government's grip on its citizens. Individuals accused of "harming" China's national security or interests while abroad can face travel bans for up to three years post-return. Those who breach technology import and export regulations may also be barred from leaving the country.

Chinese authorities claim these rules are necessary to "protect national sovereignty and security" and insist they do not target ordinary citizens. However, critics argue the measures could empower Beijing to exert more pressure on Chinese nationals overseas, potentially stifling dissent or rights advocacy. According to a statement from Piyao, a Chinese government fact-checking platform, the new regulations focus on high-risk destinations and individuals with unusual travel patterns to prevent people from being deceived into leaving the country or engaging in illegal activities abroad.

Nevertheless, some Chinese nationals have long faced unclear travel restrictions. For instance, a 26-year-old man who attended pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in 2019 was denied a passport in 2023, allegedly due to his participation in the protests. Despite publicly available data showing a sharp rise in exit ban cases from 89 in 2016 to 188,760 in 2025, Chinese citizens cannot independently verify if they are subject to these controls.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and immigration authorities have not commented on the matter. Travel restrictions have been increasingly imposed on Chinese citizens in recent years, with border officials now also advising against visiting "high-risk" countries and regions. Civil servants, state-owned enterprise employees, and ordinary citizens have reported difficulties in traveling abroad, with some facing passport application rejections or verbal reminders that certain countries are off-limits.

Legal experts view the growing travel restrictions as indicative of a broader ideological control under Chinese leader Xi Jinping, reminiscent of the era under Mao Zedong, when international travel was virtually non-existent due to China's isolation from the world.