China has intensified its use of exit bans, preventing both Chinese citizens and foreign nationals from leaving the country amid heightened tensions with the United States.

Recent incidents include a U.S. Commerce Department employee and a Wells Fargo banker reportedly being barred from boarding outbound flights.

Business groups and legal experts say the growing use of opaque restrictions is fueling anxiety among foreign investors and travelers.

Official data shows nearly fifty-three thousand court-ordered exit bans were issued in China in the past year, largely related to civil or commercial disputes.

A representative from the European Chamber of Commerce in China stated that such measures are damaging confidence at a time when Beijing is seeking to attract more foreign investment.

Affected individuals have described the bans as abrupt, unclear, and psychologically distressing.

Legal analysts have noted that exit bans in China can be imposed without formal charges and are often difficult to contest.

These practices have been widely criticized by human rights groups and business leaders, who warn they may deter international engagement and cross-border cooperation.