NEW CHINA INTEL LAW CLEARED, ACTIVISTS FEAR SURVEILLANCE

Beijing, June 27: China’s legislature passed a new intelligence law on Tuesday after an unusually brief round of discussions, a draft of which gave new powers to monitor suspects, raid premises and seize vehicles and devices.

President Xi Jinping has overseen a raft of legislation to bolster national security against perceived threats from both within and outside China.

The government gained new powers with a national security law passed in 2014, followed by measures on counterterrorism, the management of foreign non-government bodies and cyber security, among other subjects.

The law will give authorities new legal grounds to monitor and investigate foreign and domestic individuals and bodies, in order to protect national security.

Chinese activists have said they fear intensified state surveillance.

The draft showed authorities will also be able to propose customs and border inspections or “quarantines”, as well as” administrative detention” of up to 15 days for those who obstruct their work, or leak related state secrets.

The new law will allow intelligence officials to enter “restricted access areas”.