Foreign Relations Law

FEATURED ANALYSIS

China’s Foreign Relations Law: Balancing “Struggle” with Beijing’s “Responsible Great Power” Narrative

Guest post by Moritz Rudolf, Fellow at Yale Law School’s Paul Tsai China Center

Foreign Relations Law of the People’s Republic of China
中华人民共和国对外关系法

[Current Text: Chinese | English › NPC; China Law Translate]

(adopted June 28, 2023, effective July 1, 2023)

• Status: Passed
• Legislative Body (Vote): NPCSC (N/A)
• Principal Drafter: ☭ General Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission
• Submitter: Council of Chairpersons
• Legislative Plans
  • Five-year: 14^th NPCSC Category I
  • Annual: 2023
• Legislative History & Text
  • NPCSC deliberation – round #2 (final): June 26 – 28, 2023 (Current Text ⇧)
  • NPCSC deliberation – round #1: Oct. 26 – 30, 2022 (Chinese only) 💬
    Public consultation: Dec. 30, 2022 – Jan. 28, 2023
• Legislative Records
  • Explanation (Oct. 27, 2022)
  • Report on Results of Deliberation (June 26, 2023)
    • Research Opinion on Constitutional & Constitution-Related Issues
  • Report on Suggestions for Revision (June 28, 2023)
  • Presidential Order (June 28, 2023)
• Official Q&A: NPCSC Legislative Affairs Commission (June 29, 2023)

NPC Observer Coverage

• China’s Foreign Relations Law: Balancing “Struggle” with Beijing’s “Responsible Great Power” Narrative (July 3, 2023)
• NPCSC Session Watch: Patriotic Education, Food Security, Accessible Environments & New Delegate Affairs Commission (June 19, 2023)

Last updated: June 26, 2025, 12:15 EDT