China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying addresses a regular press conference on July 9, 2015. (Photo/fmprc.gov.cn)
(ECNS) -- China's Foreign Ministry expressed strong dissatisfaction Thursday with remarks by Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, regarding China's new national security law.
Hussein said that law is too wide-ranging and some terms are vaguely defined, which will give the Chinese government more space to limit rights and freedoms of its citizens and strictly control civil society.
"We are strongly dissatisfied with and opposed to the so-called statement of the UN High Commissioner, which makes groundless accusations against China's normal legislative action. This not only constitutes an interference in China's domestic affairs, but also reveals the amateurishness of itself," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular press conference.
"The newly adopted national security law is a fundamental law in China's national security field. It is underpinned by a comprehensive concept of national security, and covers all areas of it. Many of the provisions in principle aim to specify the basic purposes and objectives of maintaining national security, set up the mechanism and institution to safeguard national security, address the universal and prominent problems faced by national security, and improve the building of the rule of law in the national security field," Hua said.
"We will formulate laws and regulations in relevant areas and other facilitating rules to safeguard national security, and make relevant stipulations more feasible," Hua added.
"I'd like to underscore that a highlight of the national security law is putting people's security first and the commitment to serving and depending on the people," the spokeswoman said.
The law puts at its beginning that it will "protect the fundamental interests of the people" in article 1. Article 7 underlines "respecting and safeguarding human rights, and protecting the rights and freedoms of the citizens in accordance with the law," and relevant provisions also request the government to maintain the safety and legitimate rights and interests of citizens and organizations.
"The UN High Commissioner's speculation that the law might limit rights and freedoms of citizens is utterly baseless and unjustified," Hua said.
