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Measure targets sanctions that interfere in China's internal affairs China's top legislature is deliberating a draft law on opposing
foreign sanctions to resolutely safeguard the country's sovereignty,
dignity and core interests. The draft law was submitted on Monday to the ongoing session of the
Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress, China's top
legislature, for a second review. For some time, a few Western countries, for the reason of political
manipulation and ideological bias, have made use of various excuses,
including those involving the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and the
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, to spread rumors on and smear,
contain and suppress China, according to the spokesperson office of the
Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee. They in particular violated international law and basic principles of
international relations, initiating sanctions in line with their own
laws against Chinese State organs, organizations and staff members,
thereby grossly interfering in China's internal affairs, the office
said. The Chinese government has strongly condemned such hegemonistic acts,
and people from all walks of life have also expressed great indignation
about such behavior, it said. To resolutely safeguard China's sovereignty, dignity and core
interests, as well as to oppose Western hegemony and power politics, the
Chinese government has announced corresponding countermeasures against
entities and individuals of relevant countries several times since the
beginning of the year, giving them "a taste of their own medicine", it
added. Around the time of this year's sessions of the NPC and the National
Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference,
known as the two sessions, some NPC deputies and political advisers and a
number of people from various industries called for a law opposing
foreign sanctions. They said such legislation is essential and will
provide stronger legal support and guarantees for the country in
fighting discriminatory measures of foreign nations, according to the
office. In addition, the annual Work Report of the NPC Standing Committee,
which was delivered in March, also highlighted the importance of
drafting laws regarding foreign affairs, saying the next major task is
to upgrade the legal toolkit for meeting challenges and guarding against
risks in order to oppose foreign sanctions, interference and long-arm
jurisdiction. Based on reviews of legislative advice, conclusions of the country's
anti-sanction measures, studies of similar legislation in other
countries and after soliciting opinions from the Communist Party of
China Central Committee and national government departments, the
commission drafted the law and submitted it to the top legislature in
April for the first review. The draft at that time was widely approved by members of the NPC
Standing Committee, and some suggestions on revisions were submitted,
the commission said. The second version, which was submitted to the
legislature for further review on Monday, incorporated the advice and
made some improvements. During the session this week, the NPC Standing Committee also began
to review some other draft laws, including those on data security, the
Hainan Free Trade Port, the stamp tax, practicing physicians, legal aid
and protection of the status, rights and interests of military
personnel. Draft revisions to the Law on Military Facilities Protection and the
Vocational Education Law and draft amendments to the Law on Workplace
Safety and the Audit Law were also submitted to the top legislature for
review. Lawmakers are also deliberating several reports, including those on
the central government's final accounts for 2020 and a report on the
ecological protection of the Yangtze River basin.
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