Chinese rules are no tools of any kind. This applied to HKG as well.
TSA has no jurisdiction in China.

...and, thank goodness :D

They claim they have some ltd jurisdiction outside US mainly involving nonstop flights.

TSA Jurisdiction
Transportation systems inside, and connecting to the United States of America.

Flight legal according to who? Not the Chinese government.

For flights to the USA, TSA sets the minimum security regulations they expect to be followed. The originating country's government may set their own stricter regulations beyond that. That is exactly what China does. The Chinese wouldn't allow that Leatherman tool (or Swiss Army knife, etc.) through regular security checkpoint for ANY flight domestic or international, regardless of what the TSA thinks.

They called it a "small knife", though--it's not a knife!

If they had called it a "tool" I would have understood.

Maybe they've afraid some one who know Kung Fu can easily use this as a knife.

It's China security. What's OK today probably won't be OK tomorrow. With no explanation...

Really? I have found Chinese security remarkably consistent over the years with respect to tools, knives, liquids, alcohol-based (flammable) products, lighters and matches, etc. And consistent from airport to airport across the entire country, with Xinjiang airports having some additional aspects to their security process. The newish limitations on lithium batteries and power pack/charger labelling are the only major development I can think of that might have had a rather confused transition period during the implementation.

I find it much more difficult to find any consistency with the US' TSA from airport to airport (heck even at different security checkpoints in the same airport!)

Yes. Chinese security could be the most consistent government officials in the country. And whoever watching the X Ray machine is really well trained, they could even spot out a small box of match.

Yeah, I've always been impressed with the competence of the security people. I just felt they were going nuts this time.

Maybe they saw something on X Ray and was looking for it?

Or maybe that day, some government authorities coming into town to check up, so they need to follow all procedures.

Had to laugh at your beep comment.

I think what you really mean is that everywhere else, even when it doesn't beep, you get the full wand treatment?

Recently at PVG I experienced for the first time not getting the full wand treatment when it didn't beep. They made me remove my belt and I was upset as I normally could be buck naked and still get the wand, but when it didn't beep they waved me through.

98% of the time, though, I ask them why they have the metal detector when they wand me even though no beep.

Or I see a female who is not wanted, and ask why they wanded me but not her and they say "oh, you are male".

That is something they do recently - asking passengers to remove belt. I did it last time and there was no beep. They waved me through too.

When I have my belt on, it always beeps. Once the security check the belt, perhaps to see if there is any hidden objects :confused::confused::confused:

I am used to removing belts (and even shoes). I always have to do that in US airports when I don't have TSAPre. After a few flights in the US, you will get used to that and will not be upset anymore.;););)

I am totally used to taking off my belt, it is just that no matter how close to buck naked I am, no matter whether I get a beep or not, they wand me.

Of the 20 times I did not get a beep, only this one time did they NOT wand me.

Also had to take out coins (US, Euros, Yen) from my briefcase for the first time in 8 years yesterday.