Lawmakers play down concerns as they vote for new security law
Print Edition
CHINA’S legislature yesterday adopted a sweeping national security law that covers everything from territorial sovereignty to measures to tighten cyber security.
A core component of the law, passed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, is to make all key network infrastructure and information systems “secure and controllable.”
China has said its security covers areas including politics, culture, the military, the economy, technology and the environment.
But foreign business groups and diplomats have argued that the law is vague and fear it could require that technology firms make products in China or use source code released to inspectors, forcing them to expose intellectual property.
Zheng Shuna, vice chairwoman of the committee’s Legislative Affairs Commission, downplayed those concerns, saying that China welcomes “all countries’ businesses to operate in China and provide legitimate services according to law.”
“We will continue to follow the path of peaceful development but we absolutely will not give up our legitimate rights and absolutely will not sacrifice the country’s core interests,” she said at a briefing.
The security of territorial seas and airspace is among those core interests, which, according to the legislation, China will take “all necessary measures” to safeguard.
The law, which comes amid tensions with neighbors over disputes in the South China and East China Seas, passed through the NPC committee, by a vote of 154 to zero, with one abstention.
The national security law is part of a raft of government legislation — including laws on anti-terrorism, cyber security and foreign non-government organizations.
Those policies, many of which have cyber security components, have emerged after former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden disclosed that United States spy agencies planted code in American tech exports to snoop on overseas targets.
Hong Kong and Macau must “fulfil responsibilities to safeguard national security” according to the law, which also covers crimes of subversion and inciting rebellion.
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