China bars civil servants from marrying foreigners

Millions of Chinese state employees face strict new rules on marriage, travel and personal life under President Xi Jinping's national security and anti-corruption drives, CNN reports. A long-standing rule bars government workers and anyone holding 'significant secrets' from marrying foreign nationals. Passport confiscation and travel restrictions have also been tightened, with Beijing introducing new entry-exit rules late last month that formalise existing practices and expand oversight to people with access to advanced technology, even outside the public sector.

Since Xi took power in 2012, the personal lives of Communist Party members and state workers have come under increasing scrutiny, covering divorce, travel and social activities. According to a Fudan University paper, close to 7 crore people were employed by the Chinese state as of 2020, including workers at public hospitals, schools, universities and state-owned companies. One former official told CNN they were barred from attending their son's graduation from a European university despite giving six months' notice, as colleagues said the request crossed 'a red line nobody was willing to cross.'

Despite the curbs, demand for government jobs remains high. Last year, roughly 37 lakh people sat the national public service exam for just 38,100 positions, a ratio of nearly 100 applicants per job. A struggling property market and high youth unemployment have driven many young Chinese to see government work as the safest option.