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Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing
Committee, presides over the closing meeting of the 29th session of the
13th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing,
June 10, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua] NPC Standing Committee approves bill to better safeguard national sovereignty China's top legislature passed a law on countering foreign sanctions
on Thursday to better safeguard the country's sovereignty, security and
development interests. President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order to promulgate the law, which takes effect immediately. After a second deliberation, the Standing Committee of the National
People's Congress, the nation's top legislature, adopted the law on
countering foreign sanctions when it concluded its session. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the
closing meeting and said the law is an important step in implementing
Xi Jinping Thought on Rule of Law and on Diplomacy and accelerating
legislation involving foreign affairs. "China has always adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace
and is committed to pursuing mutual benefits and common growth with
other countries," Li said. "But we never give up our legitimate rights
and interests. No one should expect China to accept any action that
damages its own interests. "The Chinese government and people resolutely oppose any sanctions and interference," he added. The top legislature followed international practice to make and
review the law, he said, noting that the law provides legal support not
only to counter hegemony and power politics, but also to protect the
interests of the country and people. While emphasizing that the law should be fully and accurately
understood and needed to be promptly applied to fight against sanctions,
he also called for the acceleration of legislation relating to foreign
affairs in order to better safeguard China's sovereignty, security and
development interests. According to the 16-article law, relevant departments of the State
Council can decide to put foreign individuals or organizations on a
sanctions list if they find them to have violated international law and
basic norms of international relations, used various excuses or their
own laws to contain or suppress China, taken discriminatory restrictive
measures against Chinese citizens or organizations, or interfered in
China's internal affairs. The countermeasures for those on the list
include denial of visa issuance, denial of entry into China,
cancellation of a visa or expulsion from the country, the law said. The Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee said
in a statement on Thursday that drafting, reviewing and passing such a
law in a short time met an urgent need to counter the hegemony and power
politics of some Western countries as well as to safeguard China's
sovereignty, security and development interests. It also will promote
the rule of law at home and abroad in a coordinated way. The law is of great practical and long-term significance, the
commission said, adding that it will effectively improve China's legal
capabilities in dealing with external risks and challenges and
accelerate the formation of a comprehensive legal system involving
foreign affairs. It clarified that the law will not affect China's opening-up, adding
that the country's determination to deepen reforms and open wider to the
world is unshakable, as is its determination to safeguard its national
sovereignty, security and development interests. Besides the law, China has similar anti-sanctions measures in some
current laws, such as a law on export control, and its legislation on
opening-up has also been speeded up in recent years, according to the
commission. Li Qingming, an associate professor at the Institute of International
Law of the China Academy of Social Sciences, said that the law was a
major step forward in strengthening the rule of law in legislation
concerning foreign affairs, saying that it provides a stronger legal
basis for China in fighting the discriminatory measures of foreign
nations. Huo Zhengxin, a law professor from the School of International Law at
China University of Political Science and Law, said, "When we fought
against foreign sanctions in the past, this was mainly with
administrative or economic measures, but now we have legal support
against such behavior." Major task Meanwhile, the law implements a major task set out in the NPC
Standing Committee's annual work report released in March, which was to
upgrade the legal toolkit for meeting challenges and guarding against
risks in order to oppose foreign sanctions, interference and long-arm
jurisdiction, he said. Both legal experts said foreign investors have no need to worry about
the Chinese business environment after the law was adopted. "The target of the legislation has never been those coming to invest
and develop in proper ways," said Li Qingming. "Investors will not be
affected, as China will continue promoting a market-oriented, sound,
international and legal business environment to ensure liberalization in
trade and investment." Huo agreed, saying that China's determination in opening-up, the path
of peaceful development and its will to embrace economic globalization
will not change and China will also give stronger legal support to
investors.
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