China can take your passport away

Uncle China warns foreign businesspeople that their Chinese adversaries can have the government take away their passports and hold them captive in China.

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Hao'd by jaycasey 21 weeks 5 days ago- – Made popular 21 weeks 1 day ago
Category: China Business Tags:

China can take your passport

jaycasey

21 weeks 5 days 12 hours 54 min ago

This is an eyeopener for foreigners doing business in China. You'd be crazy to do business there!

flotsam

21 weeks 5 days 7 hours 42 min ago

Doesn't look to be a very convincing item - or blog, for that matter, set up in Dec 2007, posted 2 unsubstantiated scare stories

If anyone reading this genuinely wants to know about doing business in China just pay attention to some of the longer established blogs or, better still, get in touch with a few old China-hands.

Ryan

21 weeks 5 days 5 hours 57 min ago

@Flotsam: Good advice - I completely agree. Remember when "sex" sold? Now "scare" sells... it's sad really. Bring back the honeys and everyone chill.

kevcham

20 weeks 6 days 4 hours 55 min ago

As one who's been around China for a long time I can verify that Uncle China is quite correct in his post about China taking away passports. It's about time someone talked about this because the Chinese press never mentions it and while I've seen some stories in the US media - particularly the New York Times about specific cases where this has happened - it's still little known among foreign businessmen. It happens most often to overseas Chinese but I've known several non-Chinese foreigners that this has happened to. Kudos to Uncle China. Those of us who do business in China should not shy away from talking about the realities of doing business here - even if it is unpopular.

flotsam

20 weeks 5 days 1 hour 12 min ago

@kevcham "Those of us who do business in China should not shy away from talking about the realities of doing business here - even if it is unpopular." - I'm listening and waiting.

@jaycasey
Two things to ask about this

1] cite an example and give the context of when it happened; if possible show how widespread the practice is.
2] name one country in the world which DOESN'T confiscate an alien's passport if circumstances require. Circumstances will vary from one nation to another as they all have different laws. My own country is no exception and if someone does the wrong thing he/she may be detained, for many years under some circumstances, but these are not casual visitors they are convicted criminals.

Until some verifiable detail is added to this story it is mo more than an spacefiller.

jaycasey

20 weeks 4 days 13 hours 25 min ago

I can't speak for the blog writer but as Uncle says, unlike most countries China takes foreigners passports away if they are involved in a civil suit in China. The US for one, doesn't do this. Yes, if you are involved in a criminal case most countries will not let you leave the country - but civil cases!? That makes it too easy for adversaries to simply sue you and hold you hostage while the courts grind it out. Do you see the difference?