China Rolls Out Foreign Relations Law

On June 28, China's Foreign Relations Law (the "Law") was adopted at the third session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), with effect almost immediately on July 1, 2023.¹ The Law is regarded as China's "first basic law ... with a foundational and guiding role" encompassing China's major policies, principles and positions to legalize and make rule-based China's diplomacy and foreign relations. Basic law means a law subordinate only to the Constitution, but superior to laws of narrower reach. China claims the Law is the first such law on foreign relations by any country.² As Wang Yi, member of the Politburo and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Party's Central Committee, China's most senior foreign relations official, stated, the formulation of the Law will help to expand China's legal tool box and provide a legal basis for opposing hegemonism and power politics, unilateralism, protectionism, and