《中華人民共和國反間諜法》修訂適時、適合、適度

Revision of Counterespionage Law: Timely, Appropriate and Adequate

新版《中華人民共和國反間諜法》（以下簡稱《反間諜法》）自2023年4月修訂通過以來，得到國際社會普遍尊重和支持，但部分外部勢力抱着怕被“打臉”就“黑臉”、怕被“揭短”就“護短”、怕被“端鍋”就“甩鍋”的不良心態，對我國正常的反間諜立法和執法工作指手畫腳、歪曲抹黑。然而事實是《反間諜法》的修訂出台契機適時，程序規範，權責明晰，有力震懾了境外間諜情報機關的囂張氣焰，令廣大人民群眾更加安心。The revised Counterespionage Law of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the “Counterespionage Law”), which was passed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress in April 2023, has enjoyed universal respect and support from the international community. However, some external forces have criticized, distorted and discredited China’s counterespionage legislation and law enforcement in an uneasy, irresponsible and unsatisfied manner because they are worried that their intentions will be revealed and their problems will be exposed. The fact is that the Counterespionage Law was revised at an appropriate timing, through standardized procedures, with unequivocal provisions concerning rights and responsibilities, which has dealt a blow to foreign espionage and intelligence agencies’ blatant attempts to jeopardize China’s national security and made the Chinese people feel safer and more secure.

《反間諜法》修訂契機“適時”

Timely Revision of the Counterespionage Law

當前，在以中國式現代化全面推進中華民族偉大復興的新征程上，我國發展站在了新的歷史起點，外部環境和安全格局發生了重大變化，《反間諜法》的修訂出台可謂正當其時、正應其勢。

On the new journey of comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese modernization, China is standing at a new historical starting point for further development. Against the backdrop of major changes of the external environment and security pattern, the revision of the Counterespionage Law came at the right time and was in line with the trends of the times.

貫徹黨中央新精神新部署。《反間諜法》的修訂出台，是落實黨的二十大精神的重要成果，是對中國特色國家安全法律制度體系的重要完善，以制度化、法治化方式推動黨的創新理論在隱蔽戰線落地生根，對深化新時代新征程反間諜鬥爭具有重大指導意義，為新時代新征程譜寫“中國特色國家安全之治”新篇章提供了有力法律支撐。

The new guiding principles and deployment of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee have been realized in the revision of the Counterespionage Law, which is an important achievement in implementing the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress. The revision of Counterespionage Law has improved the legal system for safeguarding national security with Chinese characteristics, and promoted the application of the Party’s theoretical innovation on national security in an institutionalized and legalized manner. This is of great significance for the fight against espionage on the new journey in the new era. In addition, it provides legal support for writing a new chapter of national security governance with Chinese characteristics on the new journey in the new era.

適應反間諜鬥爭新形勢。當前，國家安全領域的公開較量和隱蔽鬥爭輪番上演，各類間諜破壞活動的主體更加多元、目標更加複雜、領域更加廣闊、手法更加隱蔽、危害更加嚴重，反間諜鬥爭形勢嚴峻複雜。近期國家安全機關充分履行反間諜鬥爭職責，先後破獲並揭批了美國中央情報局（CIA）間諜案、英國秘密情報局（MI6）間諜案等一系列案件，有力維護了我國國家主權、安全、發展利益。這充分表明，修訂《反間諜法》是加強新形勢下反間諜鬥爭的迫切需要，為新形勢下防範打擊各種間諜活動、維護國家安全提供了有力法律武器，為以新安全格局保障新發展格局、以高水平安全保障高質量發展打牢了法治基礎。

China needs to adapt to the new situation in the fight against espionage. At present, there are constant overt contests and covert struggles in the field of national security. More actors have been engaged in espionage activities with more diversified targets. They use more covert means in broader areas, resulting in increasingly dangerous consequences. The fight against espionage is severe and complex. China’s national security authorities have fully fulfilled their counterespionage responsibilities. They have uncovered and exposed a series of espionage cases committed by the Central Intelligence Agency and UK’s Secret Intelligence Service, thus safeguarding China’s national sovereignty, security and development interests. This fully demonstrates that the revision of the Law is urgently needed to strengthen the fight against espionage in the new situation. It provides a strong legal basis for preventing and combating all kinds of espionage activities to safeguard China’s national security under the new circumstances. It lays a solid legal foundation for ensuring a new development pattern with new security architecture and safeguarding high-quality development with high-level security.

《反間諜法》立法形式“適合”

Appropriate Legislative Form of Counterespionage Law

以立法形式防範打擊間諜活動、維護國家安全是國際社會通行做法，中國從維護本國國家安全出發修訂出台《反間諜法》，是正當行為、正義之舉。

It is a common practice in the international community to prevent and combat espionage and safeguard national security by means of legislation. It is legitimate and just for China to revise the Counterespionage Law to safeguard its national security. 

重視反間諜工作是各國共識。間諜行為伴隨着國家的產生而產生，由於其行為的敏感性、目的的政治性、主體的涉外性、形式的秘密性、影響的不可控性和損害的難以補救性，導致間諜行為成為危害國家安全諸多因素中最為嚴重的行為之一，各國無不嚴厲打擊。中國依法維護國家安全，開展反間諜鬥爭，乃是光明磊落的正義之舉。

Emphasis on counterespionage is a consensus among countries worldwide. Espionage arose with the emergence of the state. Due to its sensitive behavior, political purpose, foreign subject, secret form, uncontrollable impact, and irreparable damage, espionage has become one of the most serious behaviors among the many factors that jeopardize national security. All countries have intensified their efforts to combat espionage. China safeguards its national security and conducts counterespionage operations in accordance with the law, which is an aboveboard and righteous act.

開展反間諜立法是大國標配。針對間諜行為進行防治防範和規範立法，防止國家秘密泄露和維護國家安全是國際通行做法。美國於1917年通過間諜法，又於1996年頒布全球首部經濟間諜法；英國於2023年推出國家安全法案，增設“破壞罪”“外國干預罪”等刑事罪名；法國是在大陸法系中對間諜罪立法最為詳盡的國家，法國刑法中涉及間諜犯罪的條款共有12條；俄羅斯在俄羅斯聯邦刑法典中對間諜行為及其處罰給予詳盡規定。

Counterespionage legislation is a necessity for major countries. It is an internationally accepted practice to prevent and combat espionage and to avoid the leakage of state secrets for safeguarding national security. The United States passed the Espionage Act in 1917, and enacted the Economic Espionage Act in 1996, which is the world’s first act concerning economic espionage. The United Kingdom introduced the National Security Act 2023, which adds criminal offenses such as sabotage and foreign interference. France has the most detailed legislation concerning espionage crimes in the countries that have a civil law system, with 12 articles related to espionage crimes in the French criminal law. Russia also has detailed provisions on espionage and relevant punishment in the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

《反間諜法》法律賦權“適度”

Adequate Legal Empowerment for the Counterespionage Law

《反間諜法》修訂出台嚴格遵守中國國內有關法律，程序嚴謹合規，權責清晰明確，充分體現了中國立法活動的公開透明、清楚明確。

Strict adherence to relevant laws and regulations in China is a priority for the revision of Counterespionage Law. The revision procedures are rigorous and standardized, and the rights and responsibilities regulated in the revised Law are crystal clear. This reflects the openness, transparency and clarity of China’s legislative process.

修訂程序科學公開。在《反間諜法》修訂過程中，全文公布修訂草案文本，徵求社會公眾意見；立法工作部門以召開座談會、論證會和實地調研一線執法單位等多種方式廣泛徵求社會各方面意見。《反間諜法》修訂草案的起草和審議過程嚴格按照《中華人民共和國立法法》規定要求，對修訂草案主要條款的可行性、出台時機、社會效果和可能發生的問題進行立法通過前評估，並依法對修訂草案進行合憲性審查，充分體現科學立法、民主立法、依法立法的原則。

The revision process is orderly and open to the public. The full text of the draft was published for public comment during the revision process. The legislative branch held symposiums, advisory meetings, and field surveys of frontline law enforcement units to solicit opinions from all sectors of society. The drafting and deliberation process of the revised Law strictly followed the provisions and requirements of the Legislation Law of the People’s Republic of China. A pre-legislation assessment was conducted on the feasibility, timing, social effects and possible problems of the main provisions of the draft, and the constitutionality of the revised draft has been reviewed according to law. This demonstrates that China carries out lawmaking in a well-conceived and democratic way and in accordance with law.

統籌賦權限權關係。《反間諜法》妥善處理賦權與限權的關係，加強對行使公權力的監督制約。在賦權方面，進一步強化黨中央對反間諜工作的集中統一領導，針對性完善間諜行為的界定，強化國家安全機關反間諜執法和監督責任，完善反間諜調查處置措施，擴大行政處罰適用種類和範圍；在限權方面，《反間諜法》明確規定“反間諜工作應當依法進行，尊重和保障人權，保障個人和組織的合法權益”。同時，《反間諜法》設立“保障與監督”專章，進一步明確國家安全機關執法規範要求，嚴格審批程序，加強對國家安全機關工作人員違法行為的監督。

It is necessary to balance empowerment with restrictions on power. The revised Counterespionage Law properly handles the above-mentioned relationship and strengthens supervision and restrictions on the exercise of public power. In terms of empowerment, it has further strengthened the centralized and unified leadership of the Central Committee of CPC over counterespionage, clarified the definition of espionage in a targeted manner, consolidated the responsibilities of national security authorities in counterespionage law enforcement and supervision, refined disposal measures for counterespionage investigations and expanded the applicable types and scope of administrative penalties. In terms of power restrictions, the revised Counterespionage Law explicitly stipulates that, “Counterespionage work shall be carried out in accordance with the law, respecting and protecting human rights, and safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of individuals and organizations.” At the same time, it establishes a chapter on Safeguards and Supervision, which further clarifies the normative requirements for law enforcement by the national security authorities, strictly implements the approval procedures and strengthens supervision on unlawful acts committed by the staff members of the national security authorities.

來源：“國家安全部”微信公眾號