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BEIJING: China imposed sweeping travel restrictions on its citizens on Tuesday, including exit bans on those deemed to endanger the country\u2019s \u201cindustrial or technological security\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n Citizens who violate technology import and export regulations could be banned from leaving China, the State Council said.<\/p>\n Those who engage in illegal activities abroad could be \u201cprohibited from leaving the country for a period of six months to three years from the date of their return to China\u201d.<\/p>\n China and the United States have been locked in a tech race, with both sides accusing the other in recent months of stealing the capabilities of locally developed artificial intelligence models.<\/p>\n The new rules, first released in July but in effect from Tuesday, were formulated to \u201csafeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests\u201d, the State Council said.<\/p>\n However, analysts warn that the travel rules give China a \u201cwide remit\u201d.<\/p>\n Security and criminal activities \u201ccan be vaguely defined and easily adjusted\u201d, Chong Ja Ian from the National University of Singapore told AFP.<\/p>\n \u201cThe outside world will only know how it applies that remit after there are cases of implementation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Chong pointed to reports of exit bans on foreign nationals, including the recent case of US citizen Min Zin.<\/p>\n The US government has said the political analyst was taken into Chinese custody in Yunnan province on June 3 and was held improperly.<\/p>\n China refuted the accusations in August, saying Min Zin was suspected of violating Chinese law.<\/p>\n \u201cThe case of Min Zin is a reminder that the range of people (that China) could restrict from exiting could be quite wide \u2014 and potentially arbitrary,\u201d Chong said.<\/p>\n Dylan Loh, an associate professor at Singapore\u2019s Nanyang Technological University, told AFP the travel restrictions \u201csend a message\u201d that China will take action to prevent \u201cleaks in security or national interest-sensitive areas\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n