Counter-Espionage Law revised to safeguard national security

Amendment clarifies that cyberattackers on State organs will be considered spies

A revision to the Counter-Espionage Law was adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, on Wednesday as it wrapped up its latest session in Beijing.

As the country's first law unveiled in 2014 to implement the overall national security concept, the law has played a large role in countering espionage activities and safeguarding national security, "but considering the need of anti-espionage in the new era and to carry out the concept in the new situation, its amendment is essential", said Wang Aili, an official from NPC Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission.

"The current situation of fighting espionage is grave, as traditional and nontraditional security threats are intertwined, and various types of spies and intelligence activities are more complicated," said Wang, who is head of the commission's criminal law department. "Espionage also involves more extensive fields, more diversified targets and more covert methods."