China to change its National Security Law with extra powers

China is all set to beef up its National Security Law by granting sweeping powers to security agencies backed by stiff punishments for counterespionage in the backdrop of reports of cyber-snooping by the US.
A new bill submitted at the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the Chinese Parliament seeks to punish foreign organisations and individuals who conduct espionage activities or who instigate and sponsor others to do it.
It also calls for stiff punishments for domestic organisations and individuals who spy on the country for foreign organisations and individuals, the bill proposes.
It grants national security agencies the authority to ask an organisation or individual to stop or change their activities that are considered harmful to national security.

If they refuse or fail to do so, the agencies will be entitled to seal or seize related properties, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The agencies are also entitled to seal and seize any device, money, venue, supplies and other properties that are related to espionage activities, according to the bill.

They will be either confiscated by national security agencies or handed over to judicial departments.
The illegal income and properties gained through knowingly hiding and fencing properties related to espionage will be confiscated, according to the bill.
The current national security law has not been revised since it took effect in 1993. The new bill comes in the backdrop of China-US spat over cyber espionage.

While US has indicted five Chinese military officials for cyber espionage of American industrial units, China points to revelations by former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden of its targeted Chinese entities.
At the first meeting of the newly formed central national security commission in April, President Xi Jinping advocated an "overall national security outlook."
Xi stressed that the challenges China faces in maintaining national security today are more diverse than they have ever been, as it has seen complicated internal and external situations.