China’s new border control regulations taking effect Tuesday allow authorities to prevent citizens from leaving the country if they engage in illegal activities that threaten national or industrial security.
The measures are part of a wider revision of China’s border rules and come amid growing government concerns over the transfer of sensitive technology as competition with the United States intensifies in artificial intelligence and other emerging fields.
The regulation says its purpose includes protecting China’s sovereignty, security and development interests.
Under the new rules, Chinese citizens involved in criminal activities overseas that threaten national security may be barred from leaving the country again for between six months and three years after returning.
Citizens who violate technology import or export regulations may also face travel restrictions if their actions are deemed to endanger industrial or technological security.
“The new regs are another indication of just how serious China is about preventing the transfer of key tech and technical knowledge,” consultancy Trivium said after the rules were announced about six weeks ago.
China has already taken steps to limit the overseas transfer of advanced technology. In April, Beijing blocked US tech giant Meta from acquiring artificial intelligence startup Manus after the deal reportedly raised government concerns over the transfer of advanced technology. Manus is a Singapore-based company with Chinese roots.
The revised border rules also allow authorities to prevent foreigners from entering China for one to five years if they provide false information on visa applications or at border checkpoints.
The regulations further target schemes in which people are deceived into traveling abroad and then forced to take part in illegal gambling or online and telephone scam operations, which have remained a major concern in recent years.
China’s Cyberspace Administration sought to ease concerns that the new measures could make international travel more difficult for ordinary people.
The agency said in an online post last week that the rules are aimed at people involved in illegal cross-border activities and would not affect citizens traveling abroad for legitimate reasons.