In response to certain Western politicians and anti-China organizations that smear and attack Hong Kong's human rights and freedoms on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the implementation of the National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday that since the implementation of the law, Hong Kong's legal system has become more robust, society has become more stable and united, and the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents have been more fully protected.
Certain Western politicians and anti-China organizations, ignoring the objective facts, maliciously smeared "One Country, Two Systems" and slandered Hong Kong's legal system, fully exposing their sinister intentions to destabilize Hong Kong, the spokesperson said during a routine press conference.
Underpinned by high-standard security safeguards, Hong Kong has achieved high-quality development, the spokesperson said, while sharing some data during the press conference.
Hong Kong's GDP has maintained growth for nine consecutive quarters; its position as an international financial center remains among the top three in the world; its global competitiveness ranking has returned to the top three; foreign direct investment inflows rank third globally, and new stock fundraising this year ranks first in the world; air cargo throughput has maintained the global first place; its international shipping center development index is ranked fourth globally; talent competitiveness ranks in the global top 10; investment in Hong Kong has become a priority for many foreign chambers of commerce. These facts fully demonstrate Hong Kong's strong resilience and vitality, and its international appeal continues to grow, Mao said.
"Today is a celebratory day marking the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland. We firmly believe that with the steadfast support of the motherland, the strong protection of the 'One Country, Two Systems' policy, the commitment of the SAR government, and the joint efforts of all sectors of society, Hong Kong has a bright future and promising prospects," the spokesperson said.
China has decided to impose sanctions on former Philippines' senator Francis Tolentino for his egregious conduct on China-related issues and prohibit him from entering the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on Tuesday.
Chinese experts believe the sanctions are necessary and targeted, serving as a warning, since Tolentino's claims have seriously damaged China-Philippines relations and affected the lives of the Chinese community in the Philippines.
For quite some time, driven by selfish interests, a handful of anti-China politicians in the Philippines have made malicious remarks and moves on issues related to China that are detrimental to China's interests and China-Philippines relations. The Chinese government is firmly resolved to defend national sovereignty, security and development interests, said the spokesperson.
When asked to provide some specific examples of the "improper behavior" that led to Chinese sanctions, and more details as well as the reasons behind the sanctions, following the announcement the same day, another Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that the website of Chinese Foreign Ministry had released the sanction decision and elaborated on it, which you may refer to.
"Let me stress that there are consequences for hurting China's interests," Mao said.
Tolentino is one of the key figures behind the passage of the so-called "Act Declaring the Maritime Zones under the Jurisdiction of the Republic of the Philippines" in the Philippine Senate, newspaper Lianhe Zaobao reported.
With regard to the "Act Declaring the Maritime Zones under the Jurisdiction of the Republic of the Philippines" ("Maritime Zones Act") and the "Act Authorizing the President of the Philippines to Establish the Archipelagic Sea Lanes in Philippine Archipelagic Waters" ("Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act") announced by the Republic of the Philippines on November 8, 2024, the Chinese Foreign Ministry solemnly stated in November 2024 that the Philippine Maritime Zones Act illegally includes China's Huangyan Dao and most of the islands and reefs of China's Nansha Qundao and relevant waters into the maritime zones of the Philippines, and attempts to enshrine the illegal award of the South China Sea arbitration in the form of domestic legislation.
China strongly condemns and firmly rejects this as the move gravely infringes upon China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea shall by no means be affected by the enactment of the Act, said the statement.
Tolentino is the malicious driving force behind the so-called "Maritime Zones Act" pushed by the Philippines, which not only violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea but also contravenes the UN Charter and other relevant international laws, said Ding Duo, director of the Research Center for International and Regional Studies at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.
Yang Xiao, an international strategy scholar who has long tracked issues in the South China Sea, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the South China Sea has been an integral part of China's territory and maritime rights since ancient times, and he believed that Tolentino's actions in promoting "Maritime Zones Act" are one of the reasons China decided to impose sanctions on him.
Tolentino, leveraging his family's political influence, holds considerable sway in Philippine politics and has long maintained an anti-China stance, Ding said, further noting that Tolentino has consistently actively pushed laws to support the illegal ruling of the South China Sea arbitration and consolidate the Philippines' illegal claims.
Yang noted that Tolentino has also been hyping up the so-called "China threat" narrative, interfering in China's affairs and stirring up fear of China among the Philippine elite.
According to a May report by Philippine media outlet Rappler, Tolentino claimed that the Philippine Senate should launch probes into suspicions of Chinese espionage and interference in the country's 2025 elections.
By presenting so-called evidence, he claimed that the Chinese Embassy in Manila hired a local public relations firm tasked with influencing public perception through fake social media accounts, while simultaneously attacking Philippine government policies seen as unfavorable to Beijing, the Straits Times reported in April.
In response to related inquiry, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that China follows the principle of non-interference in other countries' domestic affairs. We have no interest in interfering in Philippine elections.
"Tolentino has seriously damaged China-Philippines relations and shows no political integrity," Ding said, adding that Tolentino often attacks people with fair views on China, accusing them of "selling out" the Philippines to smear his political opponents.
China's sanctions are not simply in response to rhetoric, but are based on actual actions that have harmed China's sovereignty and development interests, and they serve as a legal countermeasure, Yang said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Wednesday, with both sides expressing willingness to deepen cooperation and jointly address global challenges.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that this year marks both the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union (EU), and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.
The more complex and challenging the international landscape becomes, the more China and the EU, as two great civilizations and major forces, need to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, assume responsibilities, and serve as forces of global stability and certainty, he said.
Describing the upcoming China-EU leaders' meeting as a significant event taking place at a critical juncture, Wang said China looks forward to working with the EU to summarize the valuable experience and important insights from the past 50 years of the China-EU relations, and map out the future direction of dialogue and cooperation for the next 50 years, sending a clear, positive, and constructive signal to the world.
Meanwhile, Wang stressed that China has always supported European integration, calling on both sides to uphold multilateralism and free trade, safeguard international rules and order, promote peaceful resolution of international disputes, and join hands in addressing global challenges such as climate change.
He also underscored that China remains committed to high-quality development and high-level opening-up and voiced China's readiness to work with the EU to uphold the positioning as partners, deepen economic and trade cooperation, expand two-way openness, and properly handle differences through consultation to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.
For her part, von der Leyen said the upcoming EU-China leaders' meeting will be the best opportunity for both sides to jointly mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.
Highlighting the EU's commitment to developing stable and constructive ties with China, and mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation, von der Leyen said she looks forward to in-depth discussions with Chinese leaders on issues of mutual concern, demonstrating the two sides' commitment and responsibility to deepen cooperation and jointly tackle global challenges such as climate change, thereby sending a strong and positive signal to the world.
Von der Leyen also reiterated that the EU will continue to adhere to the one-China policy.
China will hold an art exhibition from August to September to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, according to a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on Thursday.
A number of cultural events and outstanding cultural works were unveiled to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War, according to a press conference held by China's State Council Information Office on Thursday.
Lu Yingchuan, a vice minister of Culture and Tourism of China, said at the press conference that an evening gala will be held on September 3 in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
From August to October, a series of outstanding stage performances will be held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Around 20 high-quality productions will be selected from across the country and staged in major theaters in Beijing for approximately 40 performances in total, according to Lu.
Meanwhile, an art exhibition will be held at the National Art Museum of China from August to September. Over 300 artworks — including traditional Chinese paintings, oil paintings, prints, sculptures, and watercolors — will be selected from across the country for the exhibition. Lu said.
Liu Jianguo, a deputy director of the National Radio and Television Administration, said that a large number of outstanding radio, television, and online audiovisual works and programs will be released, telling stories of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and promoting its enduring spirit.
"We are advancing the creation of a series of themed works that tell the story of the Chinese people's unyielding struggle before, during, and after the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, including the TV series Our Homeland and Eight Thousand Miles of Cloud and Moon," said Liu, adding that a series of documentaries and online docuseries on the theme of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression will be released throughout the year.
A dedicated commemorative exhibition will open its doors to the public on July 7 to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, said Luo Cunkang, curator of the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
On the banks of the shimmering Huangpu River that cuts through the Chinese metropolis of Shanghai sits the headquarters of the New Development Bank, co-founded by the BRICS countries more than a decade ago to foster the shared development of the world's emerging economies.
In his visit to this new landmark in China's financial center late April, Chinese President Xi Jinping told the bank's president and former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff this multilateral institution has been a result of "a pioneering initiative for the Global South to seek strength through unity."
For the Chinese leader, the BRICS mechanism is a major platform for promoting cooperation among countries in the Global South. In the coming days, this year's BRICS summit will open in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro under the theme of "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance."
Xi's April visit to the bank demonstrates his long-standing commitment to bolstering the solidarity and common development of the Global South, amplifying the role of over 6 billion people in a world fraught with uncertainty and challenges unseen in a century. COLLECTIVE RISE
"The collective rise of the Global South is a distinctive feature of the great transformation across the world," Xi observed when addressing the "BRICS Plus" Dialogue held in Kazan, Russia, in October last year.
Much more than a pure geographical or economic term, the Global South refers to a community of emerging markets and developing countries that share similar historical experiences, development stages and goals, and political pursuits.
The concept of "South" was first coined in Antonio Gramsci's work "The Southern Question" written in 1926, in which the Italian Marxist philosopher highlighted the development gap between northern and southern Italy.
The rise of the Global South has been decades in the making. Back in 1955, the landmark Bandung Conference convened in Indonesia under the flag of solidarity, friendship and cooperation, marking the awakening of the Global South after centuries of Western colonial rule. In 1964, the Group of 77, a coalition of developing countries, was established in Geneva within the United Nations to promote South-South cooperation and form a new international economic order.
Through extensive cooperation, the countries of the Global South have emerged as a key driver of global growth. These countries have contributed as much as 80 percent of global growth over the past 20 years, with a share of global GDP increasing from 24 percent four decades ago to more than 40 percent today.
China, the world's largest developing country, is a natural member of the Global South. In 2004, the United Nations Development Programme included China in its list of more than 130 Global South countries in a report titled "Forging a Global South." Some Westerners have challenged China's position that it is part of the Global South. In response, Xi has provided a clear answer.
"As a developing country and a member of the Global South, China breathes the same breath with other developing countries and pursues a shared future with them," Xi once said.
Historically, China has suffered from Western colonialism and imperialism, much like other developing countries, said Cavince Adhere, a Kenya-based international relations scholar.
"Even today, despite inordinate success by Beijing to rise from the backwaters of development to be the second-largest economy in the world, as well as the first developing country to eliminate extreme poverty, China still faces common development challenges, and holds similar views regarding the current international order and global governance," he added. "Because of this, China has emerged as a strong champion for the legitimate rights and interests of many Global South countries."
LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND
Ahead of Xi's state visit to Brazil late last year, the Portuguese edition of the book "Up And Out Of Poverty" was officially launched in Rio de Janeiro. The book, first published in 1992, outlines Xi's perspectives on poverty eradication, local governance, reform and development when he worked in the formerly impoverished prefecture of Ningde in China's southeastern Fujian province.
Poverty has long ranked atop among the problems facing the Global South. With Xi's steadfast commitment and strong leadership, China has eradicated absolute poverty in its rural areas, a feat that no one had accomplished in China for thousands of years.
At the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro last year, Xi spoke with quiet conviction, recounting his lifelong dedication to poverty alleviation, from his time as a local official to his current role as China's top leader.
In his speech, Xi said a weaker bird can start early and fly high. "If China can make it, other developing countries can make it too. This is what China's battle against poverty says to the world," he said.
Xi's "weaker bird" metaphor originated from his book on poverty. His speech struck a chord with several foreign leaders, who asked the Chinese delegation whether they could share a copy of the speech.
The Chinese leader has placed great emphasis on development. For him, "development holds the master key to solving all problems," particularly when the global development gap continues to widen. Over the years, Xi has also been active in rallying global efforts to put development back on the international agenda as a central priority.
When attending the general debate of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in 2021 via video, Xi proposed the Global Development Initiative, an international policy framework to promote sustainable development around the world. To date, the initiative has garnered the support and participation of over 100 countries and 20 international organizations. To boost common development in the Global South, Xi has been promoting practical cooperation through major infrastructure projects within the Belt and Road Initiative. During his foreign visits over the years, Xi would launch or visit major projects, such as the Chancay Port in Peru, the Dushanbe No. 2 power plant in Tajikistan and the Colombo Port City in Sri Lanka. When hosting leaders of the Global South in Beijing, Xi would also discuss with them major projects for cooperation during their talks.
Xi believes that the Global South should be the main driving force for common development and that "On the path to modernization, no one, and no country, should be left behind." He also supports countries of the Global South exploring paths of modernization tailored to their distinctive national conditions, rather than following Western development models.
Also at last year's G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Xi outlined eight measures in support of Global South cooperation, ranging from high-quality Belt and Road cooperation to boosting development in Africa. Months earlier, at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing last year, Xi unveiled 10 partnership actions and granted zero-tariff treatment on all product categories to the least developed countries with which it has diplomatic relations. Gu Qingyang, associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, said, "China can play a positive role in the development of Global South countries," adding that Chinese technology and expertise in industrial development can support the modernization of the Global South's various regions.
EMPOWERING GLOBAL SOUTH IN INTERNATIONAL GOVERNANCE
As Xi once observed, in the face of global changes of the century, pursuing modernization and working for a more just and equitable international order are the sacred historic missions of Global South countries.
Xi described the BRICS countries as "leading members of the Global South," calling for building BRICS into "a primary channel for strengthening solidarity and cooperation among Global South nations and a vanguard for advancing global governance reform."
Since becoming Chinese president in 2013, Xi has always been a steadfast champion of BRICS cooperation. In Xiamen, he advocated for the "BRICS Plus" program at the 2017 BRICS summit, calling for more active participation from other emerging markets and developing nations. He played a crucial role in propelling the BRICS' historic expansion in 2023, ushering in the era of greater BRICS cooperation.
Effective coordination between BRICS members and other countries in the Global South has been adding more bricks to the global governance architecture. The New Development Bank exemplifies this effort.
Xi said the bank serves as "an important emerging force in the international financial system," which should work to "make the international financial system fairer and more equitable and effectively enhance the representation and say of emerging markets and developing countries." Over the years, China, under Xi's leadership, has taken concrete steps to advocate for developing countries, help Global South countries enhance their representation and voice in international governance, and promote a more just and equitable international order.
At the 2022 G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, China took the lead in supporting the African Union (AU)'s membership in the G20. In their meeting on the sidelines of the summit, then Senegalese President Macky Sall, who was also the AU chairperson that year, thanked Xi for being the first to publicly support the AU's G20 membership.
The global leadership today remains lopsided, and rebalancing this skewed system is a shared imperative for both the Global North and South, said Paolo Magri, managing director and chair of the advisory board of the Italian Institute for International Political Studies, a think tank.
"Global South countries marching together toward modernization is monumental in world history and unprecedented in human civilization," Xi said at the "BRICS Plus" Dialogue in Kazan, Russia, last year, while acknowledging that "the road to prosperity for the Global South will not be straight."
"No matter how the international landscape evolves, we in China will always keep the Global South in our heart, and maintain our roots in the Global South," Xi pledged.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with diplomatic envoys to China from the European Union (EU) and its member states on Wednesday in Beijing.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, the two major constructive forces in the world today should enhance mutual trust, handle differences properly, pool their strengths, and elevate the China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to a new level.
Wang put forward a three-point proposal for the future development of China-EU relations.
First, the two sides should uphold mutual respect, particularly by earnestly respecting each other's core interests and major concerns. Wang noted that achieving complete national reunification is the long-cherished aspiration and historic mission of the Chinese nation, and that China will never allow the Taiwan region to be separated from the motherland.
China hopes the EU will continue to adhere firmly to the one-China principle and oppose separatist activities for "Taiwan independence" in any form, he stressed.
Second, the two sides should adhere to the established positioning of their partnership. Wang said that China and the EU are partners, not rivals, and certainly not enemies.
There are no territorial disputes or geopolitical conflicts between China and the EU, let alone any fundamental clashes of interests, Wang said, noting that China hopes to work with the EU to make cooperation the prevailing trend of China-EU relations.
Third, the two sides should adhere to multilateralism. China firmly upholds the international system with the United Nations (UN) at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, Wang said, noting that China consistently stands for peace talks and rejects the use of force.
The three global initiatives, the Belt and Road Initiative, and, particularly, the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity -- all of which were proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping -- have contributed China's wisdom and solutions to the international community.
"China and the EU should follow the trend of the times, enhance understanding, build trust, achieve mutual success, and light up the world," Wang added.
The head of the EU delegation to China and diplomatic envoys of EU member states to China said that China has always been an important partner for the EU.
The EU is willing to work hand-in-hand with China for the future, develop a constructive, stable EU-China relationship, address global challenges, uphold multilateralism, and promote world peace and security, they said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister of Senegal Ousmane Sonko in Beijing on Friday.
Xi said that last September, he co-chaired the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, leading China-Africa relations into a new phase of jointly building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
Noting that China and Senegal are companions on the path to development and revitalization as well as good brothers, Xi said China is willing to work with Senegal to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, deepen their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, bring more benefits to the two peoples, and inject fresh impetus into China-Africa friendship and Global South cooperation.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Friday called for championing humanity's common values, and promoting an equal and orderly multipolar world as well as universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.
Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when delivering a speech titled "Championing Humanity's Common Values and Promoting a Multipolar World" at the plenary session of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Ding said that a decade ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted in his speech at the General Debate of the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly that peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom are the common values of all mankind and the lofty goals of the United Nations.
The important proposition transcends differences among different countries, ethnic groups, social systems and ideologies, drawing a value-based concentric circle for building a community with a shared future for mankind, and has received extensive support and positive responses from the international community, he added.
At present, global changes unseen in a century are accelerating, multiple risks are intertwined, and humanity is confronted with many common challenges, said Ding, calling for reviewing President Xi's important speech to steer the world toward a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress.
The Chinese vice premier put forward a four-point proposal.
First, uphold the concept of global governance featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits. Promote equal rights, opportunities, and rules for all nations, and safeguard UN authority and international fairness.
Second, jointly build an open and pluralistic world economy. Take concrete steps to safeguard the multilateral trading system and international economic order, expand and fairly share the "pie" of economic globalization, and create more opportunities for Global South countries.
Third, advocate exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. Respect the diversity of human civilizations, support all nations in exploring their own paths to realizing values, and oppose any "new Cold War" or ideological confrontation.
Fourth, safeguard global peace and development by building trust, settling conflicts, and enhancing security through dialogue, passing the torch of peace to future generations for lasting stability and common prosperity.
Ding stated that China and Russia are true friends who share weal and woe, and good partners for mutual success. Last month, President Xi paid a state visit to Russia and attended the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War, he said, adding that the two heads of state agreed to further consolidate political mutual trust, strengthen strategic coordination, and jointly deliver a resounding stance for upholding the outcomes of World War II and international fairness and justice.
China is willing to work with Russia to elevate the China-Russia relationship to greater heights, broaden its dimensions, and strengthen its resilience, expand high-quality mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to better benefit the two peoples, said Ding, urging the two countries to strengthen coordination and collaboration on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, and make greater contributions to building a more just, equitable, and prosperous multipolar world.
Ding said that despite the increasing impact of external shocks, China's economy has continued to show a positive trend, demonstrating robust vitality and resilience to the world.
China will expeditiously implement more proactive and effective macro policies, focus on stabilizing employment, enterprises, markets and expectations, and use the certainty of high-quality development to counter the uncertainties of the rapidly changing external environment, he said.
No matter how the external environment changes, China's door to opening up will only swing wider open, said Ding, adding that enterprises from all countries are sincerely welcome to invest and start businesses in China, actively participate in the process of Chinese modernization, and share China's development opportunities.
In the interactive session after the address, Ding responded to questions from the plenary session moderator on major-country relations and China-Russia cooperation in education and technology.
On the sidelines of the forum, Ding met respectively with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Russian oil company Rosneft's chief executive Igor Sechin, and Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller.
The two sides agreed to fully leverage the roles of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee, the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee and the China-Russia Energy Business Forum, promote the high-quality development of investment and energy cooperation, and provide more impetus for the development of bilateral relations.
Ding also had brief and friendly conversations respectively with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, National Security Advisor of Bahrain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
The draft revision to the Law on Penalties for Administration of Public Security is to undergo its third review by China’s top legislature with amendments targeting provisions related to minors, amid public outcry against cases in which some minors exploit their status as minors to repeatedly violate public security regulations as juvenile delinquency has surged in recent years.
The 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee will convene for its 16th session from June 24 to 27, during which the law will return for its third – and likely final – review, with targeted amendments concerning minors, Chinanews.com reported on Monday.
In recent years, juvenile delinquency has risen sharply, particularly involving serious violent crimes committed by younger minors, sparking public outrage. Many juvenile delinquencies begin with minor unlawful acts. If punishment and intervention are not carried out in a timely manner, the unlawful acts can easily progress toward serious criminal offenses.
It is neither appropriate to simply detain minors nor to release them without consequence when handling juvenile delinquency cases, Huang Haihua, a spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, said at a press conference on Monday, noting that the amendments were made in response to cases where some minors deliberately exploit their status as minors to violate public security regulations and refuse to change their behaviors despite repeated warnings, or commit serious offenses.
Huang stated that the revision adjusts the provisions on non-enforcement of detention and intensifies penalties in a targeted manner.
The current Law on Penalties for Administration of Public Security stipulates that minors aged 14 to 16, as well as those aged 16 to 18 who violate public security regulations for the first time, are not subject to administrative detention.
However, the proposed revision provides that minors aged 14 to 16 and 16 to 18 who commit their first public security violation but with serious circumstances and a notably negative impact, or minors aged 14 to 16 who violate public security regulations more than twice within one year, may be detained in accordance with the law, Huang said.
In addition, the draft revision of law will ensure proper alignment with the Law on the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency. Huang noted that the 2020 revision of that law introduced a range of corrective and educational measures for minors with seriously inappropriate behaviors, including reprimands, orders to undergo community correction, specialized education and targeted corrective measures education.
The revision stipulates that if minors are exempt from penalties or detention due to being underage, public security authorities shall adopt corresponding corrective and educational measures in accordance with the provisions of the law, Huang said.
Huang stated that the draft revision stipulates that in cases of student bullying involving physical assault, verbal abuse, or intimidation, public security authorities will be required to impose administrative sanctions in accordance with the law and adopt corresponding corrective and educational measures.
The revision also states that if a school fails to report or handle serious incidents of student bullying as required, it will be ordered to make corrections, and relevant departments will be advised to discipline responsible personnel according to the law. This ensures both public security authorities and schools to play their roles effectively in the coordinated management of student bullying, Huang said.
As for procedural improvements, Huang noted that the revision adds rules requiring that when questioning a minor who has violated public security regulations, if his legal guardian is unable to be present, other adults such as an adult relative or a representative from their school may be called to attend. Additionally, if a minor may be subject to detention, a hearing may be requested in order to better educate the offending minor and reinforce respect for the law.
In addition, to better protect minors and ensure a healthier environment for their development, the revision will also address the growing issue of minors engaged in paid companionship activities such as drinking or singing with customers in bars, karaoke venues and similar establishments – practices that harm their physical and mental wellbeing. The draft revision includes organizing or coercing minors into such activities in inappropriate venues under the scope of public security penalties, according to Chinanews.com.
