The new Law on Foreign Relations was adopted by China's National People's Congress on 1st July. This new law is framed to "safeguard China's sovereignty, national se

The new Law on Foreign Relations was adopted by China's National People's Congress on 1st July. This new law is framed to "safeguard China's sovereignty, national security and development interests".

This is mainly expounded in the Article 6 of the new law which states that all state institutions, armed forces, political parties, people's organizations and other social organizations have the obligation to safeguard China's sovereignty and security in international exchanges.

Apparently, the broader aim of the law is to achieve legal approval to the key objectives of Chinese foreign policy. The idea is to fill in the existing gaps in the legal system concerned with foreign affairs. Article 8 declares that any organization engaging in international exchanges with China which acts contrary to China's national interests shall be held accountable by law. This would reinforce the Law on Countering Sanctions which will make it illegal for the western companies to follow the sanction policy of its own government.

The law specifically mentions several key initiatives by the Chinese President, namely the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Development Initiative. The law states that China has the right to take measures against acts that endanger its sovereignty, national security and development interests " in violation of international law or fundamental norms governing international relations". This would expand the powers of the Chinese government. 

Article 19, countering the narrative about the debt trap strategy, states that China's foreign lending would respect the sovereignty of the recipient countries and non-interference in the internal political affairs of the country. The law emphasizes sovereignty and security at the heart of Chinese Foreign Policy. This signals towards the security over development complex of China.

China's New Foreign Relations Law

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