China extends travel restrictions to families of AI researchers

September 28, 2026 at 05:32 PM1 min

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Chinese authorities have expanded overseas travel restrictions to include family members of AI researchers and entrepreneurs, Bloomberg reported. Spouses and children of some specialists must now obtain special permits for trips abroad. The move follows earlier curbs on founders and key staff of private AI companies, including Alibaba and DeepSeek.

Key Facts

Chinese authorities now require spouses and children of some AI specialists to obtain special permits for overseas travel.
The restrictions previously applied mainly to AI researchers and executives at companies such as Alibaba and DeepSeek.
In spring 2026, China began restricting overseas travel for founders and key specialists of private AI companies.
In April 2026, Chinese regulators barred Manus CEO Xiao Hong and chief scientist Ji Yichao from leaving China during a review of Meta's acquisition of the startup.

Expanded Travel Restrictions

Chinese authorities have begun notifying individual researchers and entrepreneurs that family members' travel must be approved. Spouses and children of certain specialists must obtain special permits for trips abroad, even for short visits. The restrictions previously targeted the specialists themselves, including employees and executives at Alibaba, DeepSeek, and other Chinese AI developers.

Background and Rationale

In spring 2026, Chinese authorities began restricting overseas travel for founders and key specialists of private AI companies. Similar restrictions existed earlier but applied only to certain scientists and executives of state-owned enterprises. Bloomberg linked the tightened control to the Chinese government's effort to protect critical technologies amid competition with the United States and to prevent brain drain.

Manus Acquisition Case

In April 2026, Chinese authorities announced the cancellation of Meta's purchase of AI startup Manus. Manus CEO Xiao Hong and chief scientist Ji Yichao were barred from leaving China while regulators reviewed the deal.