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China to amend anti-espionage law to cover cyberattacks by foreign spies and ‘surrogates’
- Proposed changes also include provisions to strengthen protection of personal information in counter-espionage work, legislative spokesman says
- Top legislature’s standing committee is expected to endorse the change next week
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China will amend its anti-espionage law, listing cyberattacks by a “spying entity or its surrogate” as an act of espionage for the first time.
A spokesman from China’s top legislature said on Friday that the change was one of the items on the agenda of a legislative meeting next week focused on revising the country’s anti-espionage law, with new provisions related to cyberespionage.
Earlier this month, Beijing announced a slew of espionage cases by surrogates recruited by foreign spy agencies and warned Chinese citizens to stay alert to such activities.
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This is the third draft of the revision since August. The anti-espionage law, which took effect in 2014, is regarded as Beijing’s most potent tool to crack down on external interference as China locks horns with the United States and its allies on almost every front.
Beijing and Washington are increasingly aware of infiltration and spying amid the heightened geopolitical tensions.
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Less than a month ago, Beijing confirmed the detention of a Japanese national suspected of espionage.
02:18
Australian government orders review of Chinese-made surveillance cameras in defence offices
Australian government orders review of Chinese-made surveillance cameras in defence offices
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