Spying in China: Chongqing megacity ready with expanded anti-espionage law in local government ‘first’

Local version of China’s newly revised national anti-espionage law due to take effect in southwestern city on Friday

Regulations go further than national law, including strict oversight of all overseas exchange and anti-spying training for civil servants and students

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A graffiti-painted zebra crossing in Chongqing. Almost all major government departments will be involved in Chongqing’s counter-espionage efforts and include strict oversight of “co-operative projects with foreign countries that may involve national secrets”. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

Published: 5:51pm, 31 Aug 2023Updated: 6:08pm, 31 Aug 2023

All overseas trips arranged by institutes in Chongqing will have to undergo security screening from Friday, when the southwestern megacity becomes the first to implement a local version of China’s newly expanded national anti-espionage law.

The Ministry of State Security in Beijing, China’s top anti-espionage agency, hailed the move as a welcome “first” in a post on its official WeChat account on Thursday, describing the legislation due to take effect in Chongqing as “simple”, “fast” and “effective”.

This comes after China in July put in place a drastically amended national anti-spying law, to give a broader definition to acts of espionage.

Chongqing’s local version of the law, passed on July 27, is made up of 29 articles and goes further than the national regulation, including imposing strict oversight of overseas exchanges.

All courier service providers in the municipality must also obtain national security clearance before they can operate.

“[China’s] revised national anti-espionage law has provided a powerful legal weapon to deepen the fight against spies in the new era,” the state security ministry’s WeChat post said.