China has restricted the sale of 20.47 million plane tickets and 5.71 million high-speed train tickets as punishment for failing to repay debts or conducting other “untrustful” behaviour, according to data from National Development and Reform Commission.
Millions of individuals and businesses have been labelled as untrustworthy on a growing blacklist compiled by China’s courts, banning or restricting them from any number of activities, including accessing financial markets or travelling by air or train.
In total, 13.49 million individuals have been classified as untrustworthy as of the end of March, according to China’s state planner.
The list compiled by China’s courts is one of the first parts of China’s broad social credit system that targets those who refuse to honour court rulings.
Local authorities also use novel methods to put pressure on untrustworthy subjects, including preventing them from buying premium insurance, wealth management products or real estate, as well as shaming them by exposing their personal information.