China Refines Classified Information Management, Boosts Innovation and Cybersecurity

New Regulations for Implementing China's Law on Guarding State Secrets

A new set of regulations for implementing China's Law on Guarding State Secrets took effect on Sunday, July 23rd, 2023. These regulations aim to further refine the management of classified information, encourage technological innovation in this field, and enhance cyberspace management to avoid information breaches.

Strengthening Party Leadership: A special clause emphasizes the leadership of the Communist Party of China in confidentiality work, ensuring the correct political direction of this work.

The regulations specify the requirements for establishing and updating a list of state secrets, clarifying the responsibilities of designated personnel and outlining specific scenarios for derivative classification.

The regulations clarify the scope and specific responsibilities of individuals accountable for classification, preventing issues like shirking responsibilities due to unclear definitions of duties.

The regulations strengthen the confidentiality management of network usage, clarifying the obligation of network operators to cooperate in investigating and alerting on confidentiality violations. This enhances the data confidentiality management system.

Responding to concerns that the new regulations could deter foreign enterprises in China, experts emphasize that these regulations only make it clearer for foreign enterprises to understand what areas involve China's national security concerns and which do not. This clarity can actually benefit foreign businesses operating in China.

Overall, the new regulations aim to improve the management of classified information, encourage technological innovation, and enhance cyberspace management to protect national security and information integrity.