China Imposes Stricter Controls on Overseas Travel and Foreign Connections for Civil Servants and State-Linked Workers

Chinese civil servants and employees of state-linked enterprises are encountering increasingly stringent limitations on private travel abroad and closer examination of their foreign affiliations, as a part of Beijing’s ongoing campaign against foreign influence. Recent developments include bans on overseas travel, enhanced regulations on the frequency and duration of trips, intricate approval processes, and mandatory pre-departure confidentiality training. It’s important to note that these measures are not related to COVID-19.

Ten present and past employees shared their experiences with Reuters, revealing that the restrictions have broadened since 2021. These individuals, who hail from various regions and work in diverse sectors, requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Additionally, Reuters uncovered eight public announcements in the past two years from various government entities, including the national pension fund, indicating the reinforcement of rules governing personal trips abroad, although the precise details remain undisclosed.

There is also evidence of a simultaneous effort by central and local Chinese authorities to track the personal and familial connections of government and state-linked workers with foreign countries, a revelation reported for the first time by Reuters.

Experts suggest that these actions align with President Xi Jinping’s emphasis on national security in the context of challenging relations with Western nations. In recent months, China has encouraged its citizens to participate in anti-espionage activities and enacted laws that broaden the definition of spying.

According to Neil Thomas, a Chinese politics expert at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis in Washington, Beijing’s concerns include paranoia about espionage by Western countries, which has led to restrictions on government employees travelling abroad to reduce opportunities for foreign spying. Additionally, political ideology plays a role in President Xi’s desire to “look inward for ideas” rather than seeking inspiration from the West.

Despite these significant developments, neither the State Council Information Office, representing China’s government, nor the state-linked enterprises and Communist Party entities mentioned in this report have responded to Reuters’ inquiries regarding these travel restrictions or data collection efforts.

While limitations on personal foreign travel were traditionally applied to senior government officials and state executives with access to confidential information, they have now expanded to encompass a broader spectrum of employees. This includes the millions of Chinese civil servants and the significant workforce of state-owned enterprises.

For instance, lower-level employees at China Construction Bank in Beijing and Shanghai can now travel abroad for personal reasons only once a year, and for a maximum of 12 days. These limitations, considered unprecedented, were recently discovered by employees when requesting time off in early 2023.

The restrictions extend beyond the financial sector; public school teachers in various regions, such as southeastern Zhejiang province and Shanghai, have also faced new constraints on overseas travel.

At one prominent branch of the state policy lender, China Development Bank, overseas trips have been prohibited in the current year. Similarly, an employee of a state-connected mutual fund disclosed that travel restrictions have recently been extended to new hires in Hong Kong and Singapore. Notably, it remains unclear whether these restrictions vary based on the destination.

Official notices from various government bodies, such as a government affairs unit in Ningbo and the National Council for Social Security Fund, have emphasized the need for more rigorous vetting of employees’ requests for personal trips overseas. In another instance, a branch of the Municipal Eco-Environment Bureau in Wenzhou issued revised rules, stipulating that employees can travel abroad only once a year and for no longer than a month.

Simultaneously, Chinese authorities are conducting a comprehensive examination of personal foreign connections among government and state-linked workers. Starting late last year, employees received questionnaires from organizations including the Communist Youth League, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Committee (CPPCC), local authorities, and their respective employers. These forms requested information about relatives with foreign nationality or overseas permanent residence and details of foreign assistance or experience, marking the first time such requests have been made.

These measures coincide with China’s escalated messaging about foreign influence. In August, the Ministry of State Security identified a Chinese national in Italy suspected of spying for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, warning of the potential for Chinese citizens to be recruited abroad. However, the CIA declined to comment on the matter.

These travel restrictions, in particular, are expected to have significant implications for China’s global interactions, limiting its officials’ exposure to foreign ideas, governance models, and international perceptions of China. As Neil Thomas pointed out, “The less Chinese officials go abroad, the less they’re able to learn from good things that foreign governments are doing, the less they are familiar with foreign societies, and the less they understand how China is truly perceived in the world.”