China’s anti-sanction efforts aim at safeguarding national sovereignty, interests: spokesman

China's efforts against foreign sanctions are made to safeguard its national sovereignty, dignity and core interests while opposing western hegemonism and power politics, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday.

Zhao made the statement at a press briefing when asked to comment on the submission of a draft anti-sanction law to the National People's Congress on Monday for second reading.

" For some time, out of political manipulation needs and ideological bias, some Western countries have used Xinjiang and Hong Kong-related issues as part of their pretexts to spread rumors on and smear, contain and suppress China. In particular, the countries, in violation of international law and the basic norms governing international relations, have imposed so-called sanctions on relevant Chinese state organs, organizations and functionaries in accordance with their domestic laws, grossly interfering in China's internal affairs,” said Zhao.

The Chinese government has strongly condemned such hegemonistic acts, and people from all walks of life have expressed strong indignation, Zhao continued.

"In order to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, dignity and core interests and oppose Western hegemonism and power politics, the Chinese government has launched multiple corresponding countermeasures against entities and individuals of relevant countries since the beginning of 2021. It's paying them back in their own coin," he said.

Around this year's "two sessions," some NPC deputies, members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, and people from all walks of life suggested that it is necessary for China to formulate a specific law on countering foreign sanctions, to provide legal support and guarantee for the country to counter discriminatory measures by a foreign country in accordance with the law, said Zhao.

According to related work plan, the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee has formulated the draft law after studying the legislation advice from various sectors, summarizing China's anti-sanction practices as well as related work, taking into account related overseas legislation, and soliciting opinions from the Communist Party of China Central Committee and national government departments.

In April, a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee put forward a legislative proposal in accordance with the legal procedure, and the 28th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee conducted a preliminary review of the draft.

Members of the NPC Standing Committee broadly agreed to formulate the law to counter foreign sanctions, and gave some advices and suggestions on improving the draft.

The Constitution and Law Committee of the NPC has revised and improved the draft law on countering foreign sanctions based on the NPC Standing Committee's deliberations as well as opinions from various sectors, and submitted a report on the results of the deliberations and the second reading draft to the 29th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th NPC in accordance with law.