Under Xi Jinping's rule, Chinese citizens expressing dissatisfaction with the government or officials risk facing severe, arbitrary repression for themselves and their families. This is not an exaggeration but a painful reality. I was illegally detained and imprisoned after exposing the corruption of the bureaucratic clique led by Li Guosheng, Secretary of the Shangqiu Municipal Party Committee, and Bai Xiangyang, the city’s mayor. My son was subsequently subjected to an exit ban as well. This series of retaliatory actions is part of Xi Jinping’s new approach to silencing dissent and controlling expression. This exit ban turns voices of discontent into crimes, using "Exit Ban" to suppress criticism and foster an atmosphere of fear.
In Xi Jinping's China, power is not a symbol of justice but a tool for intimidation and control. Xi allows no dissent, viewing critics as threats rather than citizens. His authority rests not on the people’s trust but on his relentless control over everyday freedoms. The exit ban, originally intended for rare, evidence-based cases of criminal conduct, is now a tool in Xi's arsenal for silencing public voices, even extending to family members to ensure all potential critics remain silent.
When my son was unfairly banned from leaving the country, authorities provided no written notice or legal basis. This arbitrary and tyrannical action exemplifies the Communist Party’s “collective punishment” strategy, viewing critics as enemies and punishing their families as well. Under such high-pressure policies, every individual who dares to speak up—and even their family members—may face consequences that destroy their futures.
Using exit bans to silence dissent is a new tactic of Xi’s government. By denying written documentation, authorities leave the individual with no way to resist or seek recourse while also reducing the likelihood of international scrutiny. This strategy reveals Xi’s deep insecurity about his own power. Fearing public awakening and foreign oversight, he resorts to stripping citizens of freedom of movement to force silence on his critics. This method violates basic human rights principles and is a blatant affront to international covenants and the rule of law.
Confronted with such blatant infringement on citizens' rights, we must not only speak out but call for international attention. This is not only a personal ordeal but an attack on the freedom of all Chinese citizens. The free world and foreign governments should closely examine this type of persecution of family members, openly condemning this abuse of power and deprivation of freedom, and impose strict sanctions on regimes and corrupt officials who are at odds with their own people. Every individual’s rights are universal values shared by humanity.
In a normal society, a citizen’s criticism of the government should not be a crime, nor should it implicate family members. Xi Jinping’s actions are turning the people into prisoners of an invisible cage, stripping away the fundamental freedoms they are entitled to.
