China Implements New Exit Restrictions on Technology Personnel

China has introduced new entry and exit regulations that allow the government to restrict citizens from leaving the country if they are deemed a threat to the security of important industries or technologies. These rules target engineers and officials at technology companies, including Chinese nationals employed by foreign private firms, amid an intensifying rivalry with the United States over fields such as humanoid robots and artificial intelligence. Under the new regulations, the Chinese Commerce Ministry and other authorities may prevent departure if rules regarding technology transfers or export curbs are violated. In instances involving criminal investigations or national security, authorities are not required to inform the affected individuals about the ban or the reasons for it. Additionally, immigration authorities may request electronic data and relevant documents during identity verification. The Taiwan government has warned that its citizens could be vulnerable to these restrictions because Beijing views Taiwanese people as Chinese citizens. Specifically, workers in the semiconductor and technology industries may be prevented from returning to Taiwan if they are deemed to endanger national interests. These rules follow a reported incident in April where Beijing barred two co founders of the AI startup Manus from leaving China before blocking its acquisition by Meta Platforms Inc.