New travel restrictions for citizens and foreigners came into effect in China on Tuesday, including potential exit bans for those who run afoul of Chinese regulations. “The law provides for a host of conditions under which authorities could restrict your ability to leave the country,” Henry Gao, a law professor at Singapore Management University, told CTV’s Your Morning on Tuesday. “After this law comes into effect, China is becoming ‘Hotel California’ – you can try to check out, but you might never be able to leave.” The new rules are meant to target those who are deemed a threat to national security or who have allegedly violated technological import and export laws. In practice, critics fear exit bans could be used for other activities deemed harmful by Beijing. And while other countries like Canada can impose exit bans through their court systems, the new Chinese rules allow a wider range of authorities to initiate travel restrictions. “And worse yet, in cases involving national security, they don’t even have to tell you, so you might not be able to find out until you actually reach the airport, only to be told that you cannot leave the country,” Gao added. Under the new rules, foreign nationals can also be denied entry to China for making false statements on visa applications. In February, China dropped its longstanding visa requirement for Canadian tourists and business travellers who want to visit for 30 days or less. But with potential exit bans for foreigners now in place, Gao is urging Canadians like business travellers and academics to reconsider their travel plans to China. “If you are just a tourist, you know, maybe a retiree with no business interest whatsoever, you just want to see the Great Wall, maybe you can still go,” Gao said. “Business people seem to be most effected by this … or if you do some research on topics regarded as sensitive in China, you would also be subject to restrictions.” With files from Reuters and The Canadian Press
