Travellers departing China’s two busiest international gateways faced noticeably tougher questioning on 14 September, the eve of the country’s new Exit-Entry Administration Regulation coming into force. Chinese-language outlet Wanwei Readers Network interviewed passengers and airport staff who reported that Beijing Capital and Shanghai Pudong border officers asked more detailed itinerary questions and, in some cases, inspected mobile phones. According to front-line officers quoted in the report, heightened scrutiny has in fact been in place for weeks, but 15 September marks the moment the practices acquire full legal backing. Passengers using e-gates experienced little change, whereas those using manual channels—especially first-time travellers and holders of older passports—were more frequently diverted for secondary inspection. Some travellers said they now delete foreign social-media apps before flying to avoid potential complications. The regulation empowers multiple ministries to deny exit to citizens suspected of violating export-control or technology-transfer rules. Lawyers told the newspaper that the broader mandate is consistent with China’s ‘holistic national-security’ doctrine and will likely be enforced most strictly at primary hubs such as Beijing and Shanghai. Although no large-scale delays were reported, travel-management companies advised corporate travellers to build additional time into departure plans and to travel with “clean” devices containing only data essential for the trip. Firms were also reminded to ensure that key personnel have return tickets and supporting documentation to demonstrate the business nature of their journey. As the regulation starts to bite, mobility managers should monitor anecdotal reports from secondary airports, which some travellers may increasingly use to avoid heavier scrutiny in the Tier-1 hubs.
Source: Wanwei Readers Network
