On June 28, China’s Foreign Relations Law (the “Law”) was adopted at the third session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), with effect almost immediately on July 1, 2023.1 The Law is regarded as China’s “first basic law … with a foundational and guiding role” encompassing China’s major policies, principles and positions to legalize and make rule-based China’s diplomacy and foreign relations. The Law taken as a whole comprises 45 articles across six chapters: General Principles, Responsibilities for Foreign Relations, Goals and Tasks of Developing Foreign Relations, Foreign Relations System, Safeguards for Developing Foreign Relations, and Supplementary Provisions. The Law further provides that foreign relations falls under the Party’s centralized and unified leadership (Article 5). Similarly, China protects the lawful rights and interests of foreigners and foreign organizations within China (Article 38, para. Furthermore, China has the right to allow or refuse entry, stay and residence of foreigners, and manage the activities of foreign organizations inside China (Article 38, para.

Source: Wall Street Journal July 06, 2023 20:42 UTC