BEIJING: China’s anti-foreign sanctions draft law – the first of its kind – was proposed to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) on Monday. The law is expected to provide strong legal support and guarantee for the country against the unilateral and discriminatory measures imposed by foreign countries.
It was also widely hailed by Chinese legal experts as a necessary move to strengthen the country’s legal toolkit in the face of more blatant interference and crackdowns of the US-led West against Chinese entities and individuals. The 13th NPC Standing Committee convened its 29th session on Monday in Beijing, which is scheduled to conclude on June 10, with a proposed agenda to review a number of draft laws and deliberate draft revisions. The announcement of the anti-foreign sanctions law was also in line with the top legislature’s annual work schedule, unveiled in March, which indicated that China will enhance legislation in foreign-related fields by focusing on moves against sanctions and interference, and countering long-arm jurisdiction. Some Western governments, out of political need and ideological prejudice, have been using Xinjiang-related topics and other excuses to spread rumors and suppress China, which particularly violates international laws and basic norms of the international relationship. They imposed so-called sanctions citing their laws on Chinese officials, and blatantly interfered in China’s internal affairs, the spokesperson of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee was quoted as saying in a report by the Xinhua News Agency.
Some NPC deputies and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference members, along with representatives from various sectors of society, came up with suggestions about a specific law to counter foreign sanctions, which has also become a major task this year, the spokesperson said.
A draft law in the agenda of the Standing Committee meeting should be generally reviewed three times before being put to a vote. However, if there’s a consensus on all aspects of the draft law, it can be reviewed twice, according to the rules and procedures of the legislative body.
The anti-foreign sanctions draft law has been now put into review for the second time, which is expected to be voted by the top lawmakers soon.
Legal experts said that speeding up legislation in foreign-related fields is necessary as it’s important to use legal measures to safeguard the legitimate rights of Chinese institutions, enterprises and citizens. Especially in recent years, the US government has been imposing sanctions on some Chinese entities such as high-tech firms Huawei and ZTE for so-called national security risks, and sanctioned a number of senior Chinese officials under the US’ so-called Xinjiang and Hong Kong bills last year.
– The Daily Mail-Global Times News exchange item
