Law on Guarding State Secrets

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China Law Translate › Open Thoughts on the Secrets Law

By Jeremy Daum, Senior Fellow at the Paul Tsai China Center of Yale Law School

Law of the People’s Republic of China on Guarding State Secrets
中华人民共和国保守国家秘密法

[Current Text: Chinese · Δ | English · Δ]

(adopted Sept. 5, 1988, effective May 1, 1989; revised Apr. 29, 2010, effective Oct. 1, 2010; revised Feb. 27, 2024, effective May 1, 2024)

• Status: Revision passed
• Legislative Body (Vote): NPCSC (N/A)
• Principal Drafter: National Administration of State Secrets Protection
• Submitter: State Council
• Legislative Plans
  • Five-year: 14^th NPCSC Category I
  • Annual: 2023 (backup), 2024
• Legislative History & Text
  • NPCSC deliberation – round #2 (final): Feb. 26 – 27, 2024 (Current Text ⇧)
  • NPCSC deliberation – round #1: Oct. 20 – 24, 2023 (Chinese Δ | English) 💬
    • Public consultation: Oct. 25 – Nov. 23, 2023
• Legislative Records
  • Explanation (Oct. 20, 2023)
  • Report on Results of Deliberation (Feb. 26, 2024)
  • Report on Suggestions for Revision (Feb. 27, 2024)
  • Presidential Order (Feb. 27, 2024)
• Official Q&A: National Administration of State Secrets Protection (Feb. 28, 2024)

NPC Observer Coverage

• NPCSC Session Watch: NPC Preparations and State Secrets Law Revisions (Feb. 7, 2024)
• NPCSC Session Watch: Patriotic Education, State Council’s Governing Statute, State Secrets, Defense Minister Replacement & Legislative Aftermath of Covid-19 (Oct. 16, 2023)

Last updated: August 5, 2025, 00:54 EDT