Another quick entry because some of you may be wondering... I've been getting around China by flying. Flying in China is much like flying in the US, although with a few small differences. But there's still a metal detector/x-ray machine that everyone must pass through, even for domestic China flights. So far I've flown on 8/7, 8/9, and 8/12. On one of the first flights I saw a sign by the security check that said that the CAAC (agency in China that controls intra-China travel) had ordered that passengers be limited to two bottles of liquid in their carry-on, and that they had to total less than .5 liter. I figured this was because of a problem with drunkenness on board, and they wanted to make sure people weren't taking on lots of vodka and such. On my flight, however, I had a 1/3 filled bottle of water with me, and despite the sign no one cared.
But yesterday they made us open up our still-sealed water bottles to smell them. I figured they were still checking for alcohol. Then I saw the news... Chinese news, actually, talking about how China will uphold pretty much the same security standards that the US now has, at least for international travel.
What I'm less sure about is the shampoo/gel thing. Earlier in my journeys I'd ended up with a toothpaste snafu, where for some reason I'd removed my toothpaste from my toiletries bag and not repacked it properlly, instead throwing it into some other bag and eventually my pocket, then forgetting about it and thus not having any toothpaste when I went to brush my teeth. I remember laughing about it when I finally found it after our flight yesterday, because, really, who puts their toothpaste in their pocket? Unfortunately it seems this kind of absent-minded packing will no longer work...
Finally getting to read the Internet today I've now better caught up what's going on and see that there is something very specific they are concerned about and that the new rules are not the usual Homeland Security hysterics. Even security experts I trust whom can be counted on for an often-lacking sense of perspective think these temporary measures may be warranted. But only temporarily. Ultimately they won't truly make flying safe, and they'll only serve to inconvenience, rather than deter. More sensible, risk-appropriate measures will be necessary for the long term.
In the meantime, I'm not really concerned for myself. I have another intra-China flight ahead of me and then I come back. Interestingly, however, via Canada...