China Imposes New Travel Restrictions Over ‘National Security’

China has imposed new travel restrictions on its citizens, including exit bans for individuals deemed to pose a threat to the country’s industrial or technological security.

The new measures, which took effect on Tuesday, allow Chinese authorities to prevent citizens from leaving the country for violating technology import and export regulations.

Under the rules, individuals involved in illegal activities abroad may also be prohibited from leaving China for between six months and three years from the date of their return.

The measures were first released in July and were formulated to “safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests”, according to China’s State Council.

The restrictions come amid growing tensions between China and the United States over technology and artificial intelligence.

Both countries have in recent months accused each other of attempting to steal capabilities developed through their respective artificial intelligence programmes.

Analysts, however, have warned that the new travel rules give Chinese authorities broad powers to restrict movement.

Chong Ja Ian, an analyst at the National University of Singapore, told AFP that security and criminal activities “can be vaguely defined and easily adjusted”.

“The outside world will only know how it applies that remit after there are cases of implementation,” he said.

Chong also pointed to reports of exit bans imposed on foreign nationals, including the recent case of US citizen Min Zin.

The United States government said the political analyst was taken into Chinese custody in Yunnan province on June 3 and held improperly.

China rejected the allegation in August, saying Min Zin was suspected of violating Chinese law.

“The case of Min Zin is a reminder that the range of people (that China) could restrict from exiting could be quite wide — and potentially arbitrary,” Chong said.

Dylan Loh, an associate professor at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, said the restrictions were intended to signal Beijing’s willingness to protect sensitive national interests.

The measures, he told AFP, “send a message” that China will take action to prevent “leaks in security or national interest-sensitive areas”.

The new rules are expected to attract further scrutiny as China continues to tighten controls around technology, national security and the movement of people amid its strategic competition with the United States.