On May 16, 2017, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) released a draft version of the National Intelligence Law on its Web site, inviting responses from the public until June 14. The document says “State intelligence work should ... provide support to guard against and dispel state security threats [and] protect major national interests.” National interests listed in the document include state power, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. It adds that 'Intelligence work needs to be performed both within and outside China, and foreign groups and individuals who damage national security must be investigated'. If passed, the law would give authorities new legal grounds to monitor and investigate foreign and domestic individuals and bodies, in order to protect national security. No deadline has been indicated for passage of the law.

(Comment: The government gained new powers with a national security law passed in 2014, followed by a raft of measures on counterterrorism, the management of foreign non-governmental bodies and cybersecurity, among other subjects.)