China Introduces Cross-Border Rules to Crack Down on Corruption

China’s government has formally approved a new law to combat cross-border corruption. State news agency Xinhua reported on Friday that the rules are intended to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and security.

According to US News, the fight against corruption has become a defining theme of President Xi Jinping’s leadership. The rules are also intended to deepen international cooperation in tackling corruption.

The revised law includes provisions fully supporting the development of a fairer global anti-corruption governance system. This follows an article published on Thursday in the People’s Daily by Li Xi, a senior Chinese anti-corruption official.

“Laws must be enacted to combat cross-border corruption, strengthen efforts to track down fugitives, prevent their escape and recover illicit assets,” Li said.

“This comes alongside stronger enforcement in cross-border corruption cases,” he added.

The draft legislation was comprehensively reviewed in August 2025. It was revised this month to significantly broaden its legal scope.

The revised rules also tighten confidentiality requirements for investigators in the field. They must now continue to protect state secrets, commercial secrets and personal data obtained during investigations.

The law also imposes stricter compliance obligations on companies. Chinese companies engaged in cross-border business will be required to establish anti-corruption compliance functions.

These functions must be proportionate to each company’s size and business activities. Preventive measures must also be carefully tailored to the level of risk the company may face.