China’s military tightens secrecy rules as PLA steps up exchanges abroad
- Xi Jinping signs decree that includes improving confidentiality for military events, overseas cooperation and arms fairs
- Changes are in line with the increasing engagement with foreign counterparts, expert says
China’s military has tightened confidentiality rules for overseas cooperation and arms fairs as the People’s Liberation Army steps up exchanges with its foreign counterparts.
President Xi Jinping has signed a decree to improve confidentiality, including for important military events, overseas publicity, exchanges with other militaries, and for arms fairs abroad, the official PLA Daily reported on Wednesday. Xi also chairs the powerful Central Military Commission.
The increased confidentiality was part of a revised law that will take effect on March 1, according to the newspaper. The law also improves cryptosecurity for military information and intelligent electronic devices, while a section on disciplinary violations and punishment has also been amended.
Details of the revised law were not given, but defence experts and military insiders said that the new secrecy rules would replace a confidentiality decree signed by Xi’s predecessor Hu Jintao in 2011.
Hong Kong-based military expert Song Zhongping said the changes were in line with the PLA’s increasing engagement with foreign counterparts.
