China Expands Travel Restrictions, Limits Passport Access

The Chinese government has increasingly restricted citizens’ right to leave the country, according to Human Rights Watch. Authorities now require residents from certain areas to submit extensive paperwork and obtain multiple approvals for passport applications. This policy affects regions considered high-risk for online fraud and unlawful emigration. Tibetans, Uyghurs, and others from sensitive areas face long delays or denials. Government employees must also surrender passports for "safekeeping." Critics argue these measures violate international human rights laws. Human Rights Watch warns that China is reviving past travel restrictions under the pretext of national security and anti-crime efforts.