Laws & Regulations

Presidential Decree No.90

The Anti-foreign Sanctions Law of the People's Republic of China, adopted at the 29th Session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China on June 10, 2021, is hereby promulgated, effective as of the date of promulgation.

Xi Jinping

President of the People's Republic of China

June 10, 2021

(Adopted at the 29th Session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress on June 10, 2021)

Article 1  This Law is enacted in accordance with the Constitution for the purpose of safeguarding the sovereignty, security and development interests of the State and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of citizens and organizations of China.

Article 2  The People's Republic of China adheres to an independent foreign policy of peace, adheres to five principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence, maintains the international system with the United Nations as the core and the international order based on international laws, develops friendly cooperation with other countries and promotes the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Article 3  The People's Republic of China opposes hegemonism and power politics and opposes any country's interference in China's internal affairs under any excuse or in any way.

Where any foreign country, in violation of international laws and basic norms governing international relations, uses various excuses or pursuant to its own laws to contain and suppress China, adopts discriminatory and restrictive measures against Chinese citizens and organizations or interferes in China's internal affairs, China has the right to take corresponding countermeasures.

Article 4  The relevant departments of the State Council may decide to include in the Countermeasures List the individuals and organizations that have directly or indirectly participated in the formulation, decision on or implementation of discriminatory restrictive measures stipulated in Article 3 hereof.

Article 5  In addition to the individuals and organizations included in the Countermeasures List in accordance with Article 4 hereof, the relevant departments of the State Council may also decide to take countermeasures against the following individuals and organizations:

(I) The spouse and lineal relatives of the individuals included in the Countermeasures List;

(II)Senior executives or actual controllers of the organizations included in the Countermeasures List;

(III) Organizations that have individuals included in the Countermeasures List acting as senior executives; and

(IV) Organizations which are actually controlled by individuals or organizations that are included in the Countermeasures List or have participated in the establishment and operation thereof.

Article 6  The relevant departments of the State Council may, in light of their respective responsibilities and tasks, decide to take one or more of the following measures against the individuals and organizations specified in Article 4 and Article 5 hereof in light of the actual situation:

(I) Denial of visa issuance, denial of entry, deregistration of visa or deportation;

(II) Seizure, distraining or freezing of movable property, immovable property and other types of property within the territory of China;

(III) Prohibiting or restricting the organizations or individuals within the territory of China from conducting relevant transactions, cooperation or other activities with them; and

(IV) Other necessary measures.

Article 7  The decisions made by the relevant departments of the State Council according to the provisions of Articles 4 to 6 hereof shall be final.

Article 8  Where the circumstances under which the countermeasures are based have changed, the relevant departments of the State Council may suspend, modify or cancel the relevant countermeasures.

Article 9  The determination, suspension, modification or cancellation of the Countermeasures List and the countermeasures shall be promulgated under orders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or other relevant departments of the State Council.

Article 10  The State establishes a coordination mechanism for anti-foreign sanctions work to be responsible for the overall planning and coordination in this regard.

The relevant departments of the State Council shall strengthen coordination and cooperation and information sharing, and determine and implement the countermeasures measures according to their respective responsibilities and tasks.

Article 11  The organizations and individuals within the territory of China shall carry out the countermeasures taken by the relevant departments of the State Council.

Any organization or individual violating the provisions of the preceding paragraph will be punished by the relevant departments of the State Council in accordance with the law, and such organization or individual will be restricted or prohibited from engaging in the relevant activities.

Article 12  No organization or individual may implement or assist in implementing the discriminatory restrictive measures taken by any foreign state against Chinese citizens or organizations.

Where any organization or individual infringes upon the legitimate rights and interests of any citizen or organization of China in violation of the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Chinese citizen or organization may bring a lawsuit to the people's court in accordance with the law, seeking cessation of the infringement and compensation for the losses.

Article 13  For any act endangering the sovereignty, security and development interests of China, the relevant laws, administrative regulations and departmental rules may prescribe other necessary countermeasures in addition to the provisions of this Law.

Article 14  Where any organization or individual fails to implement or cooperate in implementing the countermeasures, it/he will be subject to legal liability in accordance with the law.

Article 15  Where it is necessary to take necessary countermeasures against any foreign state, organization or individual who commits, assists or supports the acts endangering the sovereignty, security and development interests of China, the relevant provisions of this Law shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Article 16  This Law shall come into force as of the date of promulgation.