Chinese lawmakers have begun reviewing a draft law aimed at combating cross-border corruption, as Beijing moves to strengthen its legal framework for tackling corruption involving overseas activities and cross-border transactions.
The draft Anti-Cross-Border Corruption Law was submitted for its first reading on Tuesday at the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature.
The move comes after China identified the need to strengthen national anti-corruption legislation and address the growing complexity of corruption-related activities that cross national borders.
Chinese officials have previously argued that existing efforts already include international cooperation in pursuing fugitives and recovering illicit assets, but that a dedicated law could provide a stronger legal basis for such cooperation.
The legislative push also comes against a backdrop in which Chinese companies and individuals increasingly operate across international markets. Legal experts have pointed to issues including the application of jurisdiction across borders and the adequacy of existing enforcement mechanisms as areas requiring clearer rules.
The legislation could therefore provide a more specific framework for addressing corruption offences with an overseas or cross-border element, while strengthening China’s ability to cooperate with other jurisdictions.
