Details of the revised law were not given, but defence experts and military insiders said that the new secrecy rules would replace a confidentiality decree signed by Xi’s predecessor Hu Jintao in 2011.

Hong Kong-based military expert Song Zhongping said the changes were in line with the PLA’s increasing engagement with foreign counterparts.

“The PLA needs to do more overseas publicity work as it increasingly gets involved in more military-to-military exchanges with foreign counterparts – that means the risk of secrets being leaked is also increasing,” said Song, a military commentator for Phoenix Television.

He added that it was not clear what constituted a military or state secret.

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“For example, a military commentator might unintentionally reveal something that is defined as ‘confidential’ by the [PLA’s] political department because there are no specific and clear definitions in the rules on confidentiality,” he said.

As the world’s biggest fighting force with more than 2 million troops, modernising has been a top priority for China’s military over the past two decades, including the development of a blue-water navy that can operate globally.

“The new law could be seen as part of the PLA’s [efforts] to modernise,” Song said.

The PLA has been part of the United Nations’ peacekeeping operations since 2000. Xi in 2015 promised the UN that China would deploy 8,000 peacekeeping troops. That same year, the National People’s Congress passed a revised national security law that expanded the PLA’s peacekeeping responsibilities, international rescue operations and escort missions.

But the Chinese military has long been criticised by the United States and other Western countries for a lack of transparency, with any information related to its latest developments potentially deemed “confidential” by its political department.

Under the revised law, people who disclose information the PLA’s political department considers “confidential” will face punishment, and a source close to the military said that may deter some commentators from speaking to the media.

“If it’s just a minor offence they might only receive an internal disciplinary penalty, but it could mean being sent to military court if they are seen as traitors for leaking something ‘confidential’,” said the source, who requested anonymity.

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The revised law will also include details on how to keep military information confidential when using the internet and intelligent electronic devices, according to the report.

Beijing-based military expert Zhou Chenming said it was vital for the military to “update and upgrade” its rules to keep pace with global technology developments.

“Espionage techniques have changed as technology rapidly develops and it’s impossible for the PLA to stop all its officers from using the internet and mobile phones every day, both for training and leading their lives,” Zhou said.