644: Laowhy86 | How the Chinese Social Credit Score System Works Part Two

Immigration

Navigating Chinese immigration posed significant emotional and physical challenges for Laowhy86. He describes the anxiety of trying to appear nonchalant while waiting to exit China, fearing that any sign of nervousness could jeopardize his departure 1. The relief of leaving was immense, as he felt like he was escaping a nightmare after ten years of living in China 2.

I wanted to kiss the ground when I landed, because at least I knew at that point, when I landed in the US that this nightmare was over.

--- Laowhy86

The experience was so intense that it felt like a scene from a thriller movie, highlighting the precariousness of his situation.

   

Family

Laowhy86 faced immense challenges in ensuring his family's safety during their exit from China. He had to manage the logistics of selling his house and moving documents through trusted contacts, all while maintaining the facade of still being in China 3. The fear of repercussions for his family was constant, as the Chinese government could have easily used them as leverage 4.

The scariest thing was it confirmed everything on paper with what I suspected had happened.

--- Laowhy86

Despite these challenges, his family's eventual safe departure was a significant relief.

   

Surveillance

Government surveillance in China made Laowhy86's departure a complex and dangerous process. He recounts a tense encounter with a border official who seemed uncertain about his identity, highlighting the constant scrutiny he was under 5. The Chinese government's crackdown on foreigners, especially those with a public presence, added to the danger, as many were falsely accused of espionage to boost officials' careers 6.

It was so incentivized to go after foreigners that were kind of, had a public face or appearance on the Chinese Internet.

--- Laowhy86

This environment of suspicion and surveillance underscored the urgency of his escape.