New definitions added to counter espionage law

Beijing, Dec. 6: China’s cabinet on Wednesday released broad new definitions of conduct punishable under its threeyearold counter- espionage law, as China seeks to bolster its defence against threats to national security and social stability.

Over five years, President Xi Jinping has ushered in a flurry of new state security legislation to defend China from perceived threats both inside and outside its borders.

Rights groups and foreign governments have criticised the national security laws as being written in such a way to allow the party state to target activists or dissidents who challenge the Communist Party or call for political reform.

In new regulations on implementing a counterespionage law first adopted in 2014, China’s state council expanded on the legislation to clarify, for example, that collusion involves any form of contact

◗ The rules include behaviour, such as using religion or cults to harm national security, that go beyond standard definitions of espionage, namely the practise of obtaining information about a foreign government by spying

or assistance with groups that harm China’s national security.

The rules include behaviour, such as using religion or cults to harm national security, that go beyond standard definitions of espionage, namely the practise of obtaining information about a foreign government by spying.

The state council rules say that “hostile groups” include any groups that challenge the power of the Chinese Communist Party or the “socialist system”.