China tightens travel restrictions for citizens

In a move to assert greater control over its people, China has introduced a series of stringent travel restrictions. The new rules target citizens deemed to have "harmed" China's national security or interests abroad, or those seen as threats to the country's industrial and technological security. This includes sectors like semiconductors and artificial intelligence, as the rivalry between Beijing and Washington over technology intensifies.

Previously, travel restrictions were imposed on executives from these high-tech industries. Notably, co-founders of an AI company acquired by Meta were barred from leaving China in March. The new regulations mandate border officials to warn Chinese nationals against visiting countries and regions classified as "high-risk". Even before the official announcement, certain groups, including civil servants, state-owned enterprise employees, and ordinary citizens, were already subject to these controls.

A retired civil servant in Anhui recounted that around 2018, his workplace compelled employees to surrender their passports. His own passport, though retired, remained in the custody of his former employer. Ex-civil servants claim that employees had to justify overseas trips, with approval often granted to visits to relatives but not to tourism. Travel to "sensitive" countries like Japan is reportedly discouraged.

The travel restrictions have drawn criticism, with Professor Tom Kellogg of Georgetown University's Center for Asian Law calling them "deeply concerning" and likening them to the stringent controls under Mao Zedong's regime. Today's restrictions evoke memories of that era, he adds. China's state-run 'rumour-refuting' platform, Piyao, defended the new rules, stating they are a preventative measure against high-risk destinations and individuals with suspicious travel patterns.

However, the official website of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and immigration authorities did not respond to BBC's inquiries about the new rules. The Chinese government's exit bans have significantly increased in recent years, according to data from Safeguard Defenders. While only 89 exit ban cases were recorded in 2016, that number jumped to 188,760 in 2025, with civil verdicts dealing with exit bans surging over 30-fold during the same period. The actual number of such cases is likely higher due to withheld judgments.

The new rules may also impact citizens working in sensitive areas like human rights. Professor Kellogg warns that these measures could be used to control what Chinese citizens do and say overseas, potentially preventing them from criticizing the government or advocating for rights. One individual, referred to as Pipi, was denied a passport in 2023 due to his attendance at pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in 2019, a decision not confirmed in writing. Pipi remains uncertain about his ability to leave China.