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| China security law tightens control of cyber security | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| China's legislature has passed a wide-ranging and controversial national security law which tightens government control over many areas of life. | |
| The law broadly defines national security as covering everything from finance and cyber security to religion. | |
| State media said it would "protect people's fundamental interests". | State media said it would "protect people's fundamental interests". |
| It is part of a raft of policies by President Xi Jinping that have drawn criticism from foreign governments, businesses and rights groups. | It is part of a raft of policies by President Xi Jinping that have drawn criticism from foreign governments, businesses and rights groups. |
| 'Severe' threats | 'Severe' threats |
| The vaguely worded legislation authorises the government to take "all necessary" steps to protect China's sovereignty. | The vaguely worded legislation authorises the government to take "all necessary" steps to protect China's sovereignty. |
| Included in the law, passed by the standing committee of the rubberstamp National People's Congress, is a move to make key network infrastructure and information systems "secure and controllable". | Included in the law, passed by the standing committee of the rubberstamp National People's Congress, is a move to make key network infrastructure and information systems "secure and controllable". |
| The BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing says critics argue the law is excessive. | |
| Many foreign technology firms operating in China are concerned, he adds. They fear that under the new law they will be forced to hand over sensitive information to the authorities. | |
| The law is more an ideological declaration, says Zhang Xuezhong, a lawyer and former professor of political science and law at East China University, which will allow more cultural censorship and a crackdown on dissidents. | |
| "A good security law should state who on what conditions gets what punishment, but this law doesn't," Mr Zhang says. | |
| "Technically speaking, the law is awful, as it is difficult to enforce it on individuals and companies." | |
| 'Legitimate rights' | |
| Speaking at a news briefing in Beijing, a senior party official, Zheng Shuna, said the law was necessary because China's national security situation had "become increasingly severe", the Xinhua news agency reports. | |
| She said China had to defend its sovereignty and interests while also maintaining its political and social stability. | |
| "We will continue to follow the path of peaceful development but we absolutely will not give up our legitimate rights and absolutely will not sacrifice the country's core interests," she said. | |
| The tightening of security laws comes amid tensions with its neighbours over competing territorial claims in the South China and East China Seas. | |
| President Xi, who is head of the recently formed National Security Commission, has previously said China's security covers a wide range of areas including culture, politics, military, the economy, technology and the environment. | President Xi, who is head of the recently formed National Security Commission, has previously said China's security covers a wide range of areas including culture, politics, military, the economy, technology and the environment. |