Beijing to pass law aimed at preventing corruption by Chinese companies operating overseas after courts recover billions in illegal gains
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenMeredith ChenPublished: 9:30pm, 9 Mar 2026China will enact a law to combat cross-border corruption this year, according to the top legislature’s work report released on Monday – a move aimed at preventing corruption by companies overseas, which some experts said could shield them from foreign “long-arm jurisdiction”.The work report, submitted by the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee to the fourth session of the 14th NPC for deliberation, provided no details or specific timeline for the legislation. The law is expected to step up China’s anti-corruption work overseas, targeting fugitives and illicit assets abroad, as well as corruption involving overseas businesses.
Chinese authorities first officially stated their goal of enacting the law in 2023, when it was listed in the NPC Standing Committee’s legislative plan as an item for which conditions were deemed “relatively mature”.
In 2024, the third plenary session of the Communist Party’s Central Committee also called for the legislation.
