China doubles down on national security, expanding its state secrets law

China is expanding its protections of state secrets to include a new category called “work secrets.” The updated law, signed by President Xi Jinping and set to take effect on May 1, aims to strengthen national security measures. The definition of work secrets includes unclassified information that, if leaked, could have an adverse impact. However, concerns have been raised that this could limit the public’s right to know and potentially expose individuals to liability. The lack of clarity in China’s disclosure of information remains a risk for foreign businesses operating in the country. The new law adds to foreign businesses’ perception that China’s national security focus makes the operating environment more challenging.