China’s local governments to play bigger role in protecting citizens abroad under new regulation

The rule requires local authorities to improve their ability to ‘dynamically’ monitor people and institutions while they are outside the country

As surging numbers of Chinese nationals venture overseas, there has also been a rising trend in safety incidents involving them

Reading Time:2 minutes

A Chinese navy soldier helps evacuate a child from Sudan in April. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 9:03pm, 14 Jul 2023Updated: 9:42pm, 14 Jul 2023

China will mobilise more domestic resources to protect Chinese nationals abroad, including giving a bigger role to local governments, according to the country’s first regulation on consular protection.

The approach is necessary as more Chinese citizens and enterprises head overseas, setting a “higher bar” for consular protection amid a “severe and complex” security situation with a more diverse set of risks, China’s foreign vice-minister Deng Li said on Friday.

He made the comments at a press conference about a 27-item regulation unveiled on Thursday to govern the country’s consular protection and assistance.

Filling a long-standing legislative gap, the new rule institutionalises the division of responsibilities among central departments, diplomatic agencies stationed abroad and local authorities, as well as the responsibilities Chinese citizens and organisations have to protect themselves overseas.

“Consular protection and assistance … is not accomplished by the foreign ministry alone but by various departments, localities, as well as embassies and consulates abroad and even companies, organisations and individuals,” Deng said.

Under the new rules, local authorities have to devote more personnel and financial resources to “dynamically” monitor people and institutions from their jurisdictions while they are outside the country.