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China to launch chipped passports
10 May 2012

Chinese passports are set to be brought in line with modern technology after being enhanced through the use of electronic chips.

New passports will contain personal information on the citizen, with the latest documents for over 16s to include fingerprints in a bid to improve security, Xinhua revealed. 

Special printing ink, laser signs, digital signatures and holographic film have all been installed in the passports in a fight against counterfeit technologies.

A statement from the Ministry of Public Security describing the launch revealed the new passports would be available from May 15th.

For those under the age of 16, fingerprints will only be taken where parental or guardian consent has been given.

According to the Ministry, Chinese travellers will enjoy simplified border control checks through automated systems.

During the mid 90s the country issued around one million passports on average, however that has increased to ten million in recent times, with yearly growth at around 20 per cent.

China has a population of almost 1.34 billion.