A growing number of Chinese laws that enable “exit bans” has heightened fears of a more hostile environment for foreign companies operating in China. Experts say that Beijing’s tactics go against its professed desire to bolster business confidence and foreign investment in the country and may trigger an accelerated exodus of foreign companies. The Chinese…

Commentary Xi Jinping has two big problems as a student of economics. One, he and his government seem to have no idea of what motivates people to invest and take economic risks. Two, Beijing seems unable to resist any exercise of power. Both these problems show clearly in Beijing’s heightened use of exit bans against…

Commentary Changes to espionage laws and imposing bans on people leaving China pose increased risks for visitors, including professionals, business executives, and scholars. The Xinhua news agency reported that Chinese lawmakers voted a week ago to adopt a revised Counter-Espionage Law, which will take effect on July 1, 2023. The revised law was passed at…

Commentary A recent report by Safeguard Defenders revealed the changing, and rapidly expanding use of exit bans by the Chinese regime, targeting ethnic minorities, human rights defenders, businesspeople, and foreign citizens. The use of exit bans is more complex than a news headline can capture. There are, of course, good reasons for using exit bans,…

China’s communist regime has been increasing its use of exit bans against its targets—including dissidents, officials, and foreign executives—as part of its efforts to tighten controls over the country, according to the latest report by Spain-based rights group Safeguard Defenders. While it’s impossible to know how many individuals were targeted by the exit ban at…

News Analysis China is restricting people from leaving the country, and even U.S. permanent residents or U.S. citizens have been caught by this campaign. Over the course of 2021, many Chinese netizens shared on social media their difficulties when applying for passports. For those who had the travel documents, during the exit inspections at the…