On May 16, 2017, the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee of China released for public comment a draft of the National Intelligence Law (“the Draft Law”). The Draft Law, if enacted as drafted, would be the first Chinese statute to systematically address national intelligence related issues, including institutional structures,
“Cybersecurity Review” Takes Shape in China
When China’s Cybersecurity Law was enacted last November, one question (among many) that surfaced was how the government would implement the “national security review” that the law requires for certain network products and services. The law, which takes effect this June, provides that any network products and services that might affect national security procured
China Conducts Third Reading of Draft Cybersecurity Law
On October 31, the Xinhua news agency reported that the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress (“NPC”) is conducting the third reading of the draft Cybersecurity Law (“the Law”). NPC released two previous drafts of the Law for public comment in July 2015 and July 2016 (see Covington e-alerts here and here), but
China Moves Forward with Negative List for (Domestic and Foreign) Market Access
In recent years, the business community in China has been abuzz with talk of various market access “negative lists” — lists of exceptions to what would otherwise be open market access. China has now introduced a new market access negative list for all forms of investment in the country, both domestic and foreign. Before describing
China Enacts Broad Counter-Terrorism Law
On December 27, 2015, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislative body, enacted a Counter-Terrorism Law (see the Chinese version here), which took effect on January 1, 2016. The adoption of this law, a year after the first draft was released for public comment, followed closely the adoption of a
China Issues Draft Network Security Law
Close on the heels of a sweeping new National Security Law, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress released last month for public comment a very significant draft Network Security Law (“Draft Law”), also referred to as the draft Cybersecurity Law.
Since it came into power in 2012, China’s current leadership has
China’s New National Security Law
The Chinese government made headlines around the world on July 1 when the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress passed a sweeping new national security law (see official Chinese version here). The scope of the law, China’s most comprehensive piece of national security legislation to date, is broad. It covers issues of political
Is China Becoming Less Attractive to Foreign Investment?
Acquisitions of China assets by US companies have plummeted to their lowest level since 2002, according to recent data from Dealogic reported by the Wall Street Journal (“WSJ”) MoneyBeat blog. The news that only 25 deals to buy Chinese assets were made by US companies in the first half of 2014 stands in stark