In accordance with practical situations, the scope of objects subject to theft of secrets is moderately expanded, and 'documents, data, materials, and items related to national security and interests' are also included for protection. 'Collaborating with spy organizations and their agents' and 'conducting cyber-attacks against state organs, confidential-related units, or critical information infrastructure, etc.' are explicitly categorized as espionage activities.

Specifically, this revision refines the definition of espionage activities. Regarding the latest revision, Wang Aili, head of the criminal law division with the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, explained that the new law adheres to a problem-oriented approach, focusing on key issues in the implementation of the current Counter-Espionage Law, such as a narrow scope of espionage activities, inadequate security precaution systems and insufficient administrative law enforcement authority. The revised law will come into effect on July 1.

The revised law refines the definition of espionage activities, explicitly categorizing 'collaborating with spy organizations and their agents' and 'conducting cyber-attacks against state organs, confidential-related units, or critical information infrastructure and etc.' as espionage activities. The 14th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee passed an amendment to the Counter-Espionage Law on Wednesday.

Scmp counter espionage law cartoon