National Intelligence Law In The Works For 2017

On March 8, Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), announced that China is drafting a National Intelligence Law to enhance and safeguard national intelligence and protect national security and interests. The NPC has already reviewed the draft but at this time there are no details available regarding content or timeline.

China has continuously rolled out national security related laws in a fast pace. Early in 2014 and 2015, China adopted the Anti-Espionage Law, National Security Law, Cybersecurity Law, and Anti-Terrorism Law. Zhang specifically called for acceleration in building a national security legal framework and pointed out that China made great progress in 2016. NPC reviewed and passed the  NGO Law, Cybersecurity Law, Law on National Defense Transportation, and reviewed drafts of the National Intelligence Law and Nuclear Security Law, among others.