The State Council issued a circular, effective immediately, on China’s anti-espionage law on Dec 6, elaborating for the public detailed rules for implementing the law.

It gave explanations for several terms in the law, such as overseas institutions and organizations, individuals, spy organizations, spy organization agents and hostile organizations, and said that national security departments under the State Council will identify the behaviors.

Behaviors such as providing funds, venues and materials to spy organizations and individuals will be identified as helping them. And conducting espionage activities within the territory, accepting overseas funds to endanger national security or connect them for spying activities will also be deemed as collusion.

Staffers at national safety departments are authorized to arrest and hunt the criminal suspects, and their anti-espionage activities will not be interrupted by any other illegal actions.

Chinese people and organizations retain the rights and privileges to secure national safety, and their contributions such as providing clues about spying activities, collaborating with national security departments and fighting espionage activities will also be rewarded, according to the rules.

Illegally holding or keeping files or documents that are national secrets includes carrying or holding documents, materials or other items involving national secrets without authorization, said the circular.

And specialized espionage equipment or devices include those used for eavesdropping or covertly photographing, and other devices that are specified for spying activities, according to the circular.

For other behaviors that endanger national security, related departments could issue warnings, or pursue related organizations or individuals’ criminal liability.

Citizens suspected of being engaged in spying activities may be barred from leaving the country by national security institutions and departments. And foreign personnel violating this law could be deported and be banned from returning to China for 10 years, according to the rules.