China can now ban citizens from leaving for national or industrial security

China imposed new restrictions on overseas travel for its citizens starting in July 2023, aiming to safeguard national security and technological interests. The rules broaden previous limitations that applied mainly to senior civil servants and executives at state-owned enterprises by targeting private citizens and lower-level officials involved in sensitive areas like semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI). Violators can face exit bans from six months up to three years, with the goal of preventing technology and intellectual property leaks. This move is seen as part of China’s broader strategy to compete with the United States in the tech sector, where both countries accuse each other of stealing advanced AI capabilities. Critics argue that these regulations give the Chinese government extensive discretion to control citizens' movement under vague definitions of security threats.