No Escape? China Stopping Foreign Executives From Leaving

As tensions between Washington and Beijing escalate, foreign executives and U.S. nationals are finding themselves detained or subject to exit bans.

A security guard guides passengers at Beijing Capital International Airport in China on July 6, 2025. Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images

Commentary

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is stopping certain foreigners from leaving China. This policy is shrouded in legal ambiguity and, at the very least, raises alarms over freedom of movement, international investment, and diplomatic norms.