Removal from a position, especially a senior post, typically signals the end of a person’s career in Chinese politics. It is also often difficult to find private sector employment following removal. Insiders and analysts said the caution about officials’ overseas family ties reflected the party’s growing concerns about fugitives moving embezzled funds abroad. The party insider added that China’s cross-border judicial cooperation with the US had become more challenging in recent years compared with other countries due to the intense rivalry between Beijing and Washington. A provincial official familiar with disciplinary matters said scrutiny had intensified because none of the “naked officials” involved in corruption cases had previously disclosed having family members overseas. Over the past decade, Beijing has expanded its overseas travel restrictions to cover several state employee categories, including officials, executives of state-owned enterprises as well as government contractors and employees at hospitals, the SCMP reported in 2024. The restrictions have only become harsher since then. In at least two provinces in southern China, local authorities have imposed stricter overseas travel requirements on …