Spy challenges prompt China security law revamp
Legislative overhaul proposed to punish foreign espionage and expand investigators' powers
The mainland has proposed strengthening its national security law and changing its name to the counter-espionage law to better cope with new security challenges the country faces, a meeting of the top legislative body the National People's Congress (NPC) heard yesterday, according to state media reports.
Minister of State Security Geng Huichang told the NPC Standing Committee the proposed law would be based on the existing national security law but include recent experiences in counter-espionage, according to China Central Television.
Geng said counter-espionage agencies faced new challenges and needed stronger legislative support.
The proposal comes against a backdrop of tensions between China and the US and some other countries over hacking and cyberespionage.
The US has indicted five Chinese military officials for industrial spying, while China has complained about US spying activities revealed by whistle-blower Edward Snowden. Earlier this month, China detained two Canadians on suspicion of spying.