China Adopts Anti-Espionage Law Against Foreign Infiltration

China has rolled out a new anti-espionage regulation, in which the national security authority will draw up lists of companies and organisations that are susceptible to foreign infiltration.

Li Wei, an expert on national security and anti-terrorism at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said the measure places emphasis on companies and institutions taking precautionary measures against foreign espionage.

He said the regulation specifies the responsibilities that companies and institutions must bear to improve the legal system in protecting national security

According to the new regulation, companies, organisations or social groups on the list shoulder the responsibility to roll out detailed measures against foreign espionage.

This would include having staff sign letters of commitment before taking up posts, and reporting their activities related to national security, educating personnel ahead of their departures abroad, and interviewing them after their return to China.

Companies are required that their staff involved in sensitive fields or those holding important files to leave their electrical devices at home and bring new ones abroad.

According to Li, Any companies or institutions within the scope of national defence, diplomacy, economy, finance and high-tech industry should be considered as key fields in terms of possible foreign infiltration,.