China’s government is now telling some of its most valuable AI researchers they can’t leave the country without asking permission first. According to Bloomberg, select professionals at Alibaba Group and DeepSeek must now obtain prior government approval before traveling overseas, a policy targeting startup founders, researchers, and executives working on advanced artificial intelligence.
From state labs to private sector
China has restricted travel for people connected to state-related entities before. What is new is the expansion of these controls into the private sector’s AI operations, which signals just how strategically important Beijing considers the work happening inside companies like Alibaba and DeepSeek.
Bloomberg reported that some DeepSeek executives faced similar travel restrictions back in December 2025. And prior to that, two co-founders of Manus, a Chinese AI startup, were also reportedly barred from overseas travel.
The stated goals behind the restrictions are twofold. First, safeguarding sensitive technology from leaking abroad. Second, accelerating China’s AI development relative to the United States.
