Anti-cross-border graft legislation to shield state secrets, privacy

A revised draft of China's law to combat cross-border corruption will be submitted for a second reading at the 25th session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, which is scheduled to meet in Beijing from November 2 to 6.

According to Huang Haihua, spokesperson for the NPC Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission, the revised draft would strengthen protections for state secrets, internal work information, trade secrets, personal information, and privacy.

The draft received its first reading in August. It outlines the principles, scope, and positions that guide China's efforts to combat cross-border corruption, defines the relevant working mechanisms and responsibilities, and strengthens case handling and international cooperation. It also sets out enterprises' integrity and compliance obligations and specifies legal liabilities.

The revised draft further clarifies the principles that govern this work. It calls for a holistic approach to national security, strict adherence to the Constitution and the law, compliance with statutory procedures, and respect for and protection of human rights.

It also stipulates that enterprises in China engaged in cross-border business should establish appropriate integrity and compliance management departments or designate dedicated personnel, taking into account their size, business scope, and risk-prevention and control needs.