China’s New Exit Law Lets Xi Decide Who Can Leave—and It Could Trap Foreigners Too

China has passed a broad new law giving the government sweeping power to control who can leave the country, as President Xi Jinping pushes to keep state secrets, advanced technology, and highly skilled workers inside China [241212]. Beijing says the rules are needed to protect "national security" — and they could apply to foreign and Taiwanese nationals as well [241481].

The law hands the government stronger authority to decide who may exit and under what conditions, reflecting Beijing's growing focus on keeping sensitive information and key talent from leaving [241212]. Officials frame the measure as a national security necessity, while critics warn it could limit personal freedom and slow international exchange [241212]. The full impact will only become clear as the law is put into practice [241212].

The travel crackdown is part of a wider push by Beijing to tighten control over cross-border activity. China has also introduced a draft anti-corruption law aimed at cross-border corruption, which analysts describe as both a tool against illegal money flows and a weapon against foreign interference [240298]. The draft would allow China to block investigations from other countries and permit retaliation against foreign anti-corruption enforcement, drawing a firm legal line against foreign jurisdictions while setting up China's own system to police assets overseas [240298]. Legal specialists warn Beijing is creating a double-edged measure [240298].

Tensions over travel and sovereignty have spilled into diplomacy as well. China formally complained to Italy and the European Union after a senior Taiwanese official attended a democracy conference in Europe [239192]. Beijing objects to any foreign visits by high-ranking Taiwanese officials, considering Taiwan part of its territory, and such visits to Europe are rare [239192].

Meanwhile, China's travel disputes extend to its neighbors. Beijing announced it will raise visa fees for Japanese citizens by seven times, calling the move a reciprocal response to Japan's own fees for Chinese visitors [238872]. Under the new rule, Japanese applicants will pay significantly more for a Chinese visa than most other nationalities [238872]. Tokyo has not yet responded publicly, and the change adds fresh strain to already tense relations between the two countries [238872].