The Chinese authorities have submitted the first draft of the new intelligence law for public consideration. The bill expands powers of the Chinese security services in countering threats to national security.
The text of the bill was published on the website of China’s top legislative body, the National People’s Congress (NPC) , by the legislature’s standing committee on Tuesday. The authorities also encouraged Chinese citizens to give their opinions concerning the bill before June 14.
If passed, the new law would grant Chinese security services the legal grounds to monitor and investigate Chinese nationals and foreigners, as well as domestic and foreign organizations, suspected of posing a threat to national security.
The bill would particularly allow Chinese law enforcement services to raid suspects’ premises as well as seize their vehicles and electronic devices. It also says that those who hinder the activities of the state authorities or leak governmental secrets could be subjected to border checks and “quarantines, ” and could be detained for up to 15 days at the time of investigation.
“The national intelligence [agencies] .should stick to the principles of [ensuring] national security and provide informational support to major government decisions as well as [act] to mitigate risks and threats to the national security by protecting state authorities, [China’s] sovereignty, solidarity, independence, territorial integrity, people’s wellbeing, sustainable economic development and other important… national interests, ” the document says, as cited by the RIA news agency.
