Adopted at the 20th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Eleventh National People’s Congress on August 27, 2009
Effective: August 27, 2009
Table of Contents
- Chapter I — General Provisions
- Chapter II — Organization and Command
- Chapter III — Duties and Powers
- Chapter IV — Obligations and Rights of Security Personnel
- Chapter V — Support and Safeguards
- Chapter VI — Supervision and Inspection
- Chapter VII — Legal Liability
- Chapter VIII — Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I — General Provisions
Article 1 — This Law is enacted for the purposes of regulating and safeguarding the performance of duties by the People’s Armed Police Force in accordance with the law, maintaining national security and social stability, and protecting the lawful rights and interests of citizens, legal persons, and other organizations.
Article 2 — The People’s Armed Police Force is an important component of the State’s armed forces and shall be under the unified leadership and command of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Central Military Commission. The People’s Armed Police Force shall comply with the Constitution and laws and be loyal to their duties.
Article 3 — The People’s Armed Police Force shall carry out tasks such as security protection, emergency rescue, disaster relief, counter-terrorism, maritime rights protection and law enforcement, and participate in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Article 4 — The People’s Armed Police Force shall abide by the Constitution and laws, faithfully perform their duties, and be subject to the supervision of the people. Where the performance of duties by the People’s Armed Police Force harms the lawful rights and interests of citizens, legal persons, or other organizations in accordance with the law, compensation shall be made in accordance with the law.
Chapter II — Organization and Command
Article 6 — The People’s Armed Police Force shall consist of the internal security force, the mobile force, the coast guard force, and other forces. The internal security force shall be organized on the basis of administrative divisions at or above the provincial level. The mobile force shall be organized at the national level. The coast guard force shall be organized at the national and provincial levels.
Article 7 — The People’s Armed Police Force shall implement a command hierarchy of the Central Military Commission, the Armed Police Force, and troop units. The Central Military Commission shall exercise unified leadership and command over the People’s Armed Police Force through the headquarters of the Armed Police Force. The deployment and use of the People’s Armed Police Force shall strictly follow the relevant provisions, and the power of command shall be highly centralized.
Chapter III — Duties and Powers
Article 11 — In the course of performing their duties, the People’s Armed Police Force may take the following measures: (1) checking the identity documents of persons, inspecting vehicles, articles, and other property; (2) cordoning off the scene, setting up temporary checkpoints, and controlling certain areas; (3) intercepting and detaining persons in the process of committing illegal or criminal acts; (4) seizing weapons, instruments of crime, prohibited articles, and other property related to illegal or criminal acts; (5) using police equipment, weapons, and other equipment in accordance with the law; (6) other measures provided for by laws and regulations.
Article 12 — Where the People’s Armed Police Force, in the course of performing their duties, discovers that a person has committed any act that endangers public security or seriously disrupts social order, they may stop the act and may take compulsory measures such as restraining, detaining, or expelling the person in accordance with the relevant provisions.
Chapter IV — Obligations and Rights of Security Personnel
Article 17 — Personnel of the People’s Armed Police Force shall: (1) comply with the Constitution, laws, and regulations; (2) obey orders and commands; (3) love the people and protect the lawful rights and interests of the masses; (4) keep State secrets and military secrets; (5) carry forward the fine traditions of the military and abide by military discipline.
Article 18 — Personnel of the People’s Armed Police Force shall enjoy the rights and benefits provided for by laws, regulations, and military rules and regulations. The State shall guarantee the wages, insurance, welfare, and other benefits to which personnel of the People’s Armed Police Force are entitled.
Chapter V — Support and Safeguards
Article 23 — The State shall guarantee the funds needed for the People’s Armed Police Force to perform their duties and for construction. The funds needed by the People’s Armed Police Force shall be included in the central fiscal budget and shall be appropriated in full and in a timely manner.
Article 24 — People’s governments at or above the county level and their relevant departments, and citizens, legal persons, and other organizations shall support and assist the People’s Armed Police Force in performing their duties in accordance with the law.
Chapter VI — Supervision and Inspection
Article 26 — The People’s Armed Police Force shall be subject to the supervision of the State authorities, social organizations, enterprises, public institutions, and citizens. The People’s Armed Police Force shall establish and improve a supervision system and investigate and deal with violations of laws and disciplines by their personnel in accordance with the law.
Chapter VII — Legal Liability
Article 30 — Where a person refuses or obstructs the People’s Armed Police Force in performing their duties in accordance with the law, or commits other acts that interfere with the performance of duties by the People’s Armed Police Force, the person shall be given a public security administration penalty. Where a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be pursued in accordance with the law.
Article 31 — Where personnel of the People’s Armed Police Force abuse their powers, neglect their duties, or commit other violations of laws or disciplines in the course of performing their duties, sanctions shall be imposed in accordance with the law. Where a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be pursued in accordance with the law.
Chapter VIII — Supplementary Provisions
Article 38 — This Law shall come into force on August 27, 2009.
Disclaimer: This English translation is provided for reference purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, it is not an official translation. In the event of any discrepancy between this English version and the original Chinese text, the Chinese version shall prevail. This translation does not constitute legal advice. For specific legal matters, please consult qualified legal professionals. Users should verify all information against the official Chinese text published by the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China.
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