Clamping down: China tightens exit rules

In a document published on July 31, China's State Council announced that, in order to “preserve national sovereignty and interests”, border control officials could require travellers to provide additional information and documents about their reasons for travelling. Those who provide false documents or statements could be prohibited from entering or leaving the country. Chinese nationals who have “acquired travel documents by deceit” or have been involved in “exiting or entering the country illegally” could face an exit ban of between six months and three years in addition to existing punishments, according to the new rules. The ban can also apply to citizens who have “participated in illegal activities” or “threatened national security and interests” while abroad. The new articles also state that Chinese citizens can be prohibited from leaving the country if they “violate” regulations on the import and export of technology, and if these violations endanger China’s “industrial or technological security”. In March, Beijing imposed a travel ban on two co-founders of Manus, a Chinese AI company that Meta had planned to acquire for $2 billion. China blocked the acquisition plan in Apri...