Law of the People's Republic of China on National Defense

The Law of the People's Republic of China on National Defense is a Chinese legislation concerning national defense. It was passed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on 14 March 1997 and came into effect in the same day. It was revised on 27 August 2009 and 26 December 2020.

Law of the People's Republic of China on National Defense
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
Passed byStanding Committee of the National People's Congress
Passed14 March 1997 (1997-03-14)
Signed byPresident Jiang Zemin
Signed14 March 1997 (1997-03-14)
Commenced14 March 1997 (1997-03-14)
Introduced byState Council of China and the Central Military Commission
Status: In force
Law of the People's Republic of China on National Defense
Simplified Chinese中华人民共和国国防法
Traditional Chinese中華人民共和國國防法
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Guófáng Fǎ

Legislative history

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The law was passed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on 14 March 1997 and came into effect in the same day.[1][2] It was revised on 27 August 2009 and 26 December 2020.[3]

Provisions

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Article 7 of the law states that "It is the sacred duty of every citizen of the People’s Republic of China to defend the motherland and resist aggression".[4]

Article 15 states that the Central Military Commission "directs all the armed forces of the country".[4]

Article 21 states that the armed forces of the People's Republic of China are "subject to the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party".[4] Article 22 states that the armed forces of the People’s Republic of China are composed of the People’s Liberation Army, the People’s Armed Police Force and the Militia.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. Blasko, Dennis J. (30 March 2012). "Politics and the PLA: Securing Social Stability". Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  2. Wei, Changhao. "National Defense Law". NPC Observer. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  3. Wei, Changhao; Hu, Taige (2020-12-28). "NPCSC Passes New Criminal Law Amendment, Revises National Defense Law & Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Law & Establishes Hainan IP Court". NPC Observer. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "中华人民共和国国防法" [National Defense Law of the People's Republic of China]. China Law Translate (in Chinese). 2020-12-27. Retrieved 2026-05-09.