National Security Law of the People's Republic of China

The National Security Law of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国国家安全法), which was issued on July 1, 2015, is part of a series of laws implemented under Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping's administration as part of efforts to strengthen national security.

National Security Law of the People's Republic of China
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
Long title National Security Law of the People's Republic of China
Citation	National Security Law (English)
Territorial extent	People's Republic of China but excludes China's Special Administrative Regions.
Enacted by	Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
Enacted	July 1, 2015
Commenced	July 1, 2015
Related legislation
National Intelligence Law, Cybersecurity Law, Hong Kong National Security Law Anti-Secession Law
Summary
A law formulated on the basis of the Constitution to maintain national security, the people's democratic dictatorship, the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, the fundamental interests of the people, ensure the smooth implementation of reform and opening up, establishment of socialist modernization and the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation
Keywords
National Security, Intelligence
Status: In force

National Security Law of the People's Republic of China
Simplified Chinese	中华人民共和国国家安全法
Traditional Chinese	中華人民共和國國家安全法
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Guójiā​'ānquán Fǎ

Not to be confused with 2020 Hong Kong national security law.

In July 2020, a similar law, the Hong Kong national security law, took effect.^[1]

History

The law was enacted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on July 1, 2015, and implemented on the same date.^[2] The law is part of a series of laws implemented under Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping's administration as part of efforts to strengthen national security. After its passage, Alan Leong, a pro-democracy lawmaker in Hong Kong, told the broadcaster RTHK that the law "can be considered as giving pressure to Hong Kong" to enact its own security law.^[3]

Content

In Article 2, the National Security Law states that the protection of national security means the protection of national unity.^[4]: 76 It defines China's core interests, which are "the political regime; the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the nation; and people’s livelihoods, sustainable economic development of society and other major interests".^[5]

Article 14 stipulates that April 15 of each year is the National Security Education Day.^[6] Article 23 addresses the concept of cultural security.^[7]: 63 According to article 23, the state shall develop advanced socialist culture, practice socialist core values, resist harmful culture, maintain its ideological dominance, and increase its cultural competitiveness.^[7]: 63

Reactions

Annette Lu, the former vice president of Taiwan, said that the law is an offense to Taiwan, and some people from Hong Kong have expressed concern about their safety while in the mainland China after it was issued.^[8][9]

See also

• National Security Commission of the Chinese Communist Party