China is increasing its use of “exit bans”, ensnaring Chinese nationals and foreigners alike and deepening concerns about business travel to the country, according to experts and affected individuals. This month, Wells Fargo halted work travel to China after authorities prevented a high-profile American banker from leaving the country. Just days later, it emerged that a US commerce department employee had been blocked from leaving as well. There is no complete record available of exit bans, but data from China’s supreme people’s court, which captures a portion of the bans issued by the judiciary, shows the number of individuals facing travel restrictions has grown every year since 2018. John Kamm of The Dui Hua Foundation, which tracks Chinese travel restrictions, attributed the rising cases to increasing tensions between Beijing and Donald Trump’s Washington. US and Chinese negotiators met in Stockholm this week for two days of talks to extend their tariff truce. “There is not a single explanation for the wide range of exit ban cases. It’s a growing problem,” said Kamm. He said he was aware of between 30 and 40 US citizens unable to leave China, but added that figure was almost certainly an underestimate.

Full report : ‘Pervasive sense of fear’: China steps up exit bans as US tensions flare.