April 15, 2024, is the ninth National Security Education Day in mainland China. The theme of this year's event is "10 Years of Overall National Security Concept, Innovation Leadership". It is the basic duty of every citizen to establish a sense of national security and consciously care for and safeguard national security!
01
How did the National Security Education Day come about?
On July 1, 2015, the 15th Session of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress passed the National Security Law of the People's Republic of China, which came into force on the date of promulgation. Article 14 of the National Security Law stipulates that April 15 of each year shall be the National Security Education Day.
02
What is National Security?
According to Article 2 of the National Security Law, national security refers to the state of state power, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, people's well-being, sustainable economic and social development, and other major national interests in a state that is relatively free from danger and internal and external threats, as well as the ability to ensure a sustained state of security.
03
What does national security involve?
In order to reflect the requirements of the overall national security concept, the National Security Law of the People's Republic of China clarifies the national security tasks in the fields of political security, homeland security, military security, economic security, cultural security, social security, scientific and technological security, information security, ecological security, resource security, and nuclear security.
04
What are the obligations of citizens in safeguarding national security?
Article 77 of the National Security Law provides:
Citizens and organizations shall perform the following obligations to preserve national security:
(1) Abide by the relevant provisions of the Constitution, laws and regulations on national security;
(2) Promptly report leads on activities endangering national security;
(3) Truthfully provide evidence of activities that endanger national security;
(4) Providing facilitation or other assistance for national security efforts;
(5) To provide necessary support and assistance to state security organs, public security organs and relevant military organs;
(6) Keeping known state secrets;
(7) Other obligations stipulated by laws and administrative regulations.
No individual or organization may engage in conduct endangering national security, and must not provide any funding or assistance to individuals or organizations endangering national security.
The Constitution states:
Article 51: In exercising their freedoms and rights, citizens of the People's Republic of China must not harm the interests of the State, society, or the collective, or the lawful freedoms and rights of other citizens.
Article 52: Citizens of the People's Republic of China have the obligation to preserve national unity and the unity of all ethnic groups throughout the country.
Article 53: Citizens of the People's Republic of China must abide by the Constitution and laws, keep State secrets, protect public property, abide by labor discipline, abide by public order, and respect social morality.
Article 54: Citizens of the People's Republic of China have the obligation to safeguard the security, honor, and interests of the motherland, and must not engage in conduct that endangers the security, honor, and interests of the motherland.
Article 55 Defending the motherland and resisting aggression is the sacred duty of every citizen of the People's Republic of China.
Military service and participation in militia organizations in accordance with the law are the honorable obligations of citizens of the People's Republic of China.
Article 56 Citizens of the People's Republic of China have the obligation to pay taxes in accordance with law.
05
What rights do citizens have in safeguarding national security?
(1) Citizens' and organizations' acts of supporting and assisting national security efforts are protected by law. Where the personal safety of themselves or their close relatives is endangered as a result of supporting or assisting national security efforts, they may request protection from the public security organs or state security organs. Public security organs and state security organs, in conjunction with relevant departments, shall employ protective measures in accordance with law.
(2) Where citizens and organizations cause property losses due to their support or assistance in national security efforts, they shall be compensated in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State;
(3) Citizens and organizations have the right to make criticisms and suggestions to state organs on national security work, and have the right to lodge complaints, accusations, and reports against violations of law and dereliction of duty committed by state organs and their staff in national security work.
06
What is 12339?
A: In November 2015, the national security organs issued a notice to the public, "12339" is the telephone number for the state security organs to accept reports from citizens and organizations. This hotline was set up by the Ministry of State Security to facilitate citizens and organizations to report espionage acts or leads to the state security organs.
07
What activities that endanger national security should we be vigilant against in our daily lives?
(1) Some suspicious persons go to the internal investigation without approval to collect information on science and technology, economy, enterprises, etc. If this situation is discovered, it cannot be provided at will and reported to the local public security organ or state security organ.
(2) Be vigilant against incitement and rumor-mongering by foreign radio, television, Internet and other media.
(3) Some foreign organizations and personnel often appear in the vicinity of China's military and secret units, taking advantage of the opportunity to steal secret intelligence and information. If you encounter any suspicious person, report it immediately.
(4) Some organizations and individuals with foreign backgrounds take advantage of some popular discontent to incite confrontation with the government. These situations should be reported immediately.
08
How to maintain national security?
(1) Documents, materials and other items that are state secrets shall be promptly sent to the relevant organs, units or secrecy departments.
(2) Where it is discovered that someone has bought or sold documents, materials, or other items that are state secrets, it shall be promptly reported to the secrecy department, state security organs, or public security organs for handling.
(3) If anyone discovers that someone has stolen or snatched documents, materials and other items that are state secrets, they have the right to stop them and shall immediately report them.
(4) Where clues are discovered that leak or may leak state secrets, they shall promptly report them to the state security organs.