China Amends Criminal Law Related to Bribery and Corruption

On December 29, 2023, China’s legislature, the National People’s Congress, amended the Criminal Law. Among other things, the amendments impose higher penalties on bribe givers and entities that accept bribes. These amendments, which will take effect on March 1, 2024, correspond with the Communist Party’s policy to target both bribe receivers and bribe givers -- an idea first put forward during the Party’s 19th National Congress in 2017.

The Party and government continue to focus on anti-corruption efforts, as reflected in a recent speech by President Xi Jinping vowing “no mercy” in fighting corruption and singling out the pharmaceutical, finance, infrastructure, and energy industries, as well as state-owned enterprises.