Over the last few years, the communist regime in China has strengthened its monitoring of the movements of personnel in key positions within banks, research institutions, and state-owned enterprises. Overseas travel now requires approval, and some institutions even mandate that employees report or apply for permission to go to another city for leisure purposes.
A respondent from Shenzhen, Guangdong Province noted that, in her workplace, managers at the deputy division-level and above must submit an application in advance if they wish to travel to Guangzhou, another city about 2 hours away. An employee at the loan review department of the Bank of Communications drove from Beijing to Tianjin over a weekend. As soon as he passed the border of Beijing and entered Hebei Province, he received a call from his superior asking why he left Beijing without informing anyone and where he was going.
Source: Radio Free Asia, March 21, 2025
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shehui/2025/03/21/banks-scientific-research-institutions-senior-staff-monitored-leaving-town/