🚔 Criminal
Law on Guarding State Secrets of the PRC (2010 Amendment) · Yalla China
قانون حفظ الأسرار الدولة (تعديل 2010) / Law on Guarding State Secrets (2010 Amendment)
Enacted: 2010-04-29 ✅ Effective: 2010-10-01
📝 Overview
Defines what constitutes state secrets in China and penalties for disclosing them, applying to foreigners who handle such information.
This is general information only, not legal advice. For your specific case, consult a licensed lawyer.
📜 The law text / key provisions
The Law on Guarding State Secrets (2010 Amendment) provides: (1) Secrets definition: includes information related to national security, defense, foreign affairs, economy, science, and may extend to statistical data in some cases; (2) Classification: secrets classified in three levels (secret, top secret, ultra-top secret); (3) Penalties: disclosing secrets carries 3 to 15 years imprisonment or more; (4) Foreigners: subject to the same law and may be deported or prosecuted; (5) Wide application scope: unclear boundaries make even ordinary economic research risky in some cases.
💬 Practical reading
💬 This is a general reading/opinion for orientation — not the official legal text nor legal advice.
Exercise extreme caution when researching or documenting in sensitive areas in China. Avoid photographing government or military facilities. Journalists and researchers should consult lawyers.
📎 Official source
National People's Congress of China
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026