China Imposes Travel Curbs On Citizens Deemed Threats To National Security

China has tightened restrictions on international travel by its citizens, with new exit-and-entry rules taking effect Tuesday that allow authorities to bar people deemed a potential threat to national technology security from leaving the country.

The rules, unveiled by Beijing in July, target violations of export-control and technology import-export regulations that could endanger China’s industrial or technological security.

Under the new provisions, Chinese citizens who return to the country after committing illegal or criminal acts abroad that harm national security or national interests can face an exit ban ranging from six months to three years.

Foreign Nationals Also Face Restrictions

The rules also provide for restrictions on foreign nationals. People can be denied entry into China for one to five years if they are found to have made false statements in their visa applications, according to the report.

China has long imposed travel restrictions on senior government officials and executives of state-linked companies who have access to confidential information.

In recent years, Beijing has also tightened scrutiny of private overseas travel and foreign connections among civil servants and employees of state-linked enterprises as part of a broader campaign against foreign influence.

Taiwan Raises Concerns

The new measures have prompted Taiwan to warn its citizens to exercise caution when travelling to mainland China. Beijing considers Taiwan part of China and treats people from the island as Chinese citizens.

Shen Yu-chung, a deputy head of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, said the rules effectively give legal backing to previously unfounded border-control practices and expand the discretionary powers of Chinese enforcement agencies.

He particularly flagged provisions referring to export controls and technology import-export management, saying they could have implications for Taiwanese working in the technology sector.

China, however, has rejected those concerns, saying the new rules provide stronger legal protection for Taiwanese people.

Beijing’s Growing Focus On National Security

The latest restrictions come amid Beijing’s increasingly broad emphasis on national security, including tighter controls over technology, data and foreign links.

Chinese citizens have generally been free to travel abroad in recent decades, a major change from the Cold War era when overseas travel was heavily restricted. However, authorities have continued to closely monitor the movements of people considered potential security risks.

Foreign governments have also reported cases in which individuals were prevented from leaving China, sometimes in connection with security investigations.

The new rules therefore give Chinese authorities an expanded legal framework to restrict overseas travel in cases involving national security, technology controls and China’s broader national interests.