China has enforced a policy requiring teachers and public sector employees to surrender their passports as part of President Xi Jinping's broader effort to control international travel and limit foreign influence on civil society.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has long prioritised loyalty from educators and other public sector employees, fearing that exposure to foreign ideas could undermine the party’s control.

In a tightening grip on civil society, Chinese authorities have implemented a policy that requires teachers and other public-sector employees to surrender their passports. Under the guise of “personal travel abroad management,” this measure is part of President Xi Jinping’s broader efforts to control who can travel internationally and for what purposes.

According to The Financial Times, many public sector employees in provinces such as Sichuan, Hubei, and Anhui have already been instructed to hand in their travel documents. One teacher from Sichuan reported that while teachers could apply to travel abroad, such requests are unlikely to be approved. “If we want to travel abroad, we have to apply to the city education bureau,” the teacher said. “But I don’t think it will be approved.”

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    1•2 months ago

    The recall of passports is not limited to teachers. Employees in state-owned enterprises and other public sector roles are also being targeted. In some cases, retirees who previously held senior positions in state-run companies have had their passports revoked. One such case involved a 76-year-old retiree who worked for a state-owned aircraft manufacturer. Despite no longer having access to sensitive information, his passport was confiscated earlier this year for “security reasons.” He expressed frustration at being unable to visit his family abroad. “I am a patriot,” he said, “but I don’t understand why I’m not allowed to visit my grandson.”

    My partner can’t visit her family because she’s a refugee (from a different country) who was persecuted for calling for democracy. Her mother’s age means she might not be able to come here again. I know she’s pretty anxious about it. I can’t imagine.