China issued new State Council regulations on exit and entry management on July 31, 2026. They take effect September 15. The rules tighten scrutiny of passport and travel applications, expand exit bans (especially for export-control or tech-security risks), and let authorities discourage trips to “high-risk” places. Official statements frame it as safety and standardization. Critics and the video see it as a step toward tighter control over who can leave.
https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202607/content_7077173.htm
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202607/31/WS6a6cb650a310986e2b4686f7.html
Local offices in Shandong and Henan already turn people away with new paperwork demands.
Tech workers in AI and sensitive jobs face quiet travel limits to stop talent walking out.
Analysts call the rules another tool for locking capital and skills at home.