BEIJING, CHIN—A revised law dramatically expanding China’s definition of espionage came into force on Saturday, giving Beijing more power than ever to punish what it deems threats to national security.
The United States government, analysts, and lawyers say that the revisions to Beijing’s anti-espionage law are vague and will give authorities more leeway in implementing already opaque national security legislation.
Originally released for public comment in December 2022, the revisions were formally approved by China’s top legislative body in April.
Chinese law already meted out harsh punishment for those involved in alleged espionage, from life in prison to execution in extreme cases.
In May, a 78-year-old US citizen was sentenced to life in prison on spying charges.
Under the revised law, “relying on espionage organizations and their agents” as well as the unauthorized obtaining of “documents, data, materials, and items related to national security and interests” can constitute a spying offence.
