In the April 23, 2026 episode of Lei’s Real Talk, Lei surveys four ways that “China Is Sealing Itself Off”—by imposing new restrictions on travel, relationships, internal information, and external information.
Travel. It’s becoming harder and harder for everyone—not just members of especially targeted groups, like the Uyghurs—to get a passport and to travel overseas.
Passports have “become instruments of control.” That is, more than usual. “For years, active officials already needed approval to travel overseas…. What’s changed now is how far the system has extended…. In multiple provinces, retired officials have openly discussed how they need still need approval before leaving the country…. Even after retirement, they remain under institutional surveillance.”
Others are being subjected to similar restrictions. “In sectors like AI and advanced technology, Beijing is actively trying to prevent people and knowledge from traveling abroad…. Under the draft of the new financial law of 2026, authorities can impose exit bans even without a court order. That means that if you are a private entrepreneur and you’re suspected of financial violations, you may not be allowed to leave the country. And the word ‘suspected’ gives the system a lot of room to maneuver.”
Ordinary citizens are not exempt. Leaked information about the passport process in Wugang shows that “in order to apply for a passport you now need approvals from the community or village leader, your local police chief, township authorities, the county-level public security bureau, and a special office focused on fraud prevention…. Applicants are also required to submit a full year of financial transaction records….
“In Guizhou, residents report that after returning from abroad, they’re called in by local police for questioning. Some are required to turn in their passports. In some regions, simply booking an international flight can trigger a call from the police.”
Relationships. During the Cultural Revolution, having overseas ties was suspect. After the post-Mao reforms, overseas ties became something valuable, and elites “rushed to send their children and grandchildren overseas….
“But now the trend is reversing again…. People have revealed that starting early January this year, internal notices were issued across the police, public prosecution, and court systems…. Any contact with individuals who have an overseas background is now considered a potential security risk. And by overseas background, they mean people who have studied abroad, lived abroad, or even traveled overseas extensively. That means such contact must be avoided, or at minimum, reported. And in some serious cases, individuals may be required to cut off contact entirely….
“Who are these overseas contacts? They’re not spies or agents. In many cases, or in most cases, they are simply people’s old friends, former classmates, acquaintances, or even family members. The concern is information leakage. Because during casual conversations, people might unintentionally reveal internal developments, sensitive incidents, political delicate events, things like corruption investigations, internal power struggles, or events involving military figures.”
As a result, even meeting an a former colleague visiting from overseas may have to be “staged like an accidental encounter” to avoid suspicion.
Internal information. “As early as ten years ago, officials were already banned from using iPhones in offices, but enforcement was inconsistent because people Chinese love iPhones…. Then, in 2019, the central office of the party issued a directive. All government agencies and public institutions must eliminate foreign computers and software within three years…. By 2024, the directive became even clearer. Government computers were banned from using Intel and AMD chips. State-owned enterprises were ordered to complete a transition to domestic technology by 2027.
“In 2026, things escalated sharply. The State Council General Office issued a new rule…. Now before entering the office, all staff must turn off their phones or set them to silent. Then place them in electronic shielding lockers at the entrance…. Everyone must also confirm that they’re not carrying a second phone…. Inside the office, there should be no signals, no devices. Once inside, communication must switch to wired landlines….
“In more sensitive departments, the controls go even further…. Departments tied to foreign affairs and national defense now operate under much higher security levels. They’ve installed mobile signal detection equipment in their offices…. All internal work must be conducted in a disconnected environment. That means no internet access, no external connectivity. In some cases, even internal networks are not allowed.”
External information. “The fourth layer of control is the most far-reaching…. That’s your access to the outside world through the Internet.
“Since Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, control over the internet has steadily tightened. But in 2026, that control entered a new phase. On January 1, a revised cybersecurity law officially took effect” that strengthens oversight of cross-border Internet access.
“Leaked internal documents began circulating online pointing to a coordinated action by the Cyberspace Administration and China’s three major telecom operators. They target cross-border internet connections for both companies and individuals. Starting April 1, a nationwide special rectification campaign was launched. A network engineer from a tech company in Suzhou described the change: ‘Before, they would issue warnings or give you time to fix things. Now, they just shut you down immediately. There’s basically no buffer anymore.’…
“Services that enable bypassing the firewall are strictly prohibited. So enforcement at the individual level has also intensified. Using a VPN can now trigger a call or even a visit from the police. And across online platforms, many users reported the same thing. Their VPNs suddenly stopped working.”
The workaround is underground markets and technology that the authorities cannot completely eliminate.
Bottom line. What it all adds up to is “a coordinated system-wide shift…across four dimensions: physical movement, who can leave; human relations, who you can talk to; internal information, what you can carry to or access in an office; and external information, what you can reach. Originally, these tools were applied selectively. Now they’re expanding toward a total coverage.”
Yet “the more the system tries to seal itself, the more pressure builds inside it…. So people will push back.”
