China continues to bar people from leaving the country, including foreign executives. Many Chinese and foreigners are struggling with the exit bands in the country.
Ever since Xi Jinping took over in 2012, China has expanded the legal landscape for exit bans and used them even more. There are times that they are used outside legal justification, according to the report by Safeguard Defenders.
Between 2018 and July 2022, no less than five new or amended Chinese laws provide for the use of exit bans.
China-US Tensions
The attention on the exit bans comes as China-US tensions have increased over trade and security disputes, according to Reuters.
The use of exit bans by China has also been a point of contention between the two countries.
In recent years, the US government has criticized China for using exit bans as a tool to pressure and intimidate Chinese nationals with foreign ties, including US citizens.
In response, the US has imposed visa restrictions on Chinese officials involved in such actions. The issue has also been raised in trade negotiations between the two countries.
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Human Rights & Political Repression
The use of exit bans has become a major issue in the ongoing tensions between China and the United States. These measures, which prevent individuals from leaving China for various reasons, have raised concerns about human rights violations and political repression.
Many experts believe that China uses exit bans as a way to pressure dissidents, activists, and others who speak out against government policies. This is particularly true for Chinese nationals with foreign ties or dual citizenships who may be seen as threats to national security.
The US government has been very vocal in its criticism of this practice by Beijing. In 2019 alone, the State Department issued travel advisories warning Americans about potential risks associated with traveling to China due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including exit bans.
In addition to visa restrictions on Chinese officials involved in such actions, Washington also imposed sanctions on several companies it accused of facilitating these abuses against Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province; an area where more than one million people are believed to be detained without trial being subjecting them towards torture-like conditions according Amnesty International reports.
Overall, the use of exit bans by China has been widely criticized by the international community as a violation of human rights and an attempt to silence dissent. While some countries still cooperate with China on these issues, others have taken steps to restrict visas and impose sanctions on those involved in these actions. The situation remains a contentious topic in international relations.
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