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The Chinese government has tightened overseas travel restrictions for key personnel at private AI firms such as Alibaba and DeepSeek, a move intended to stem the outflow of advanced technologies and talent as competition with the United States intensifies.
Bloomberg reported on May 26 (local time) that Chinese authorities have begun requiring people involved in advanced AI development—or those deemed strategically important—to obtain prior approval before leaving the country. The requirement reportedly applies to central figures in the private AI sector, including startup founders, researchers, and company executives.
Beijing already enforces passport retention and travel limits on senior executives of state-owned enterprises, Communist Party officials, nuclear scientists, and leading university researchers. Analysts say it is unusual, however, to extend such direct controls to private-sector employees.
Officials are said to be selecting targets based on their strategic importance to China’s AI industry rather than on rank or institutional affiliation. It remains uncertain which job categories and technical specialties the restrictions will eventually cover.
Experts interpret the measure as a sign that Beijing now regards AI talent as a core national strategic asset. Many of China’s top AI professionals have emerged from private technology firms and startups that expanded rapidly after OpenAI introduced ChatGPT.
Still, analysts warn the policy could weaken Chinese AI companies’ long-term competitiveness for talent. Engineers who aim to work abroad might leave earlier in their careers, and Chinese AI experts based overseas could hesitate to return.
Observers note the timing follows Beijing’s forceful intervention in Meta’s acquisition of AI startup Manus. Manus, which was founded in China and later relocated to Singapore, was acquired by a U.S. firm, prompting domestic concern about the loss of critical technologies and personnel.
After the deal, Chinese authorities tightened restrictions on U.S. capital investment in sensitive technology firms and reportedly barred two Manus co‑founders from leaving the country. Authorities are reportedly investigating the transaction.
Officials say the new policy is not a direct response to the Manus case, but analysts view it as clear evidence that preventing the outflow of core technologies is a key policy objective.
Industry sources report that some engineers have already been notifying authorities of overseas travel plans, including business trips. What was once a near-formal notification, sources say, has hardened into a substantive approval process.
Last year, the Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese authorities advised prominent AI founders and researchers to avoid visiting the United States. Though not an official travel ban, the guidance was widely read as a sign of growing caution in Beijing amid escalating U.S.-China tech tensions.
By Chan Park | cpark@aitimes.com
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