China has unveiled a comprehensive set of regulations aimed at enhancing the protection of state secrets, marking a significant step in refining its legal framework on confidentiality.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang signed a decree issued by the State Council to implement the new rules, which will take effect on September 1. The regulations, consisting of six chapters and 74 articles, are designed to ensure the effective enforcement of the recently revised law on guarding state secrets, updated in February.
The new regulations focus on refining leadership and management mechanisms related to state-secret protection and clarifying the responsibilities of relevant parties. They emphasize the need for improved delineation of classified items and strengthened supervision over the protection of state secrets.
Under the regulations, commendations and rewards will be granted to organizations and individuals who play a significant role in safeguarding state secrets, especially in emergencies, or who report activities involving the leakage or illegal acquisition of state secrets.
Internet operators are mandated to comply strictly with confidentiality laws and protocols. They are required to establish mechanisms to detect and handle violations, and to devise emergency plans for potential state-secret leaks.
The regulations also call for stringent checks and management of personnel engaged in confidential work. They specify various scenarios of state-secret leakage in public institutions, holding responsible personnel accountable and subject to punishment for violating relevant statutes.
Reference(s):
China unveils rules for implementing law on guarding state secrets
cgtn.com
