Clifford Chance

Recent Amendments to China's Bribery Laws Further Strengthen its Enforcement Powers

10 September 2015

On 29 August 2015, the National People’s Congress of China promulgated the 9th Amendment to the Criminal Law. Included in the amendment are changes to the bribery-related provisions to expand the criminal fines applicable to individuals, to criminalize the act of giving bribes to "influential persons," and to restrict the availability of penalty exemption as leniency for bribe-givers. These changes are consistent with China's anti-corruption crackdown and bring China's statutory enforcement authority amongst the world's strictest.On 29 August 2015, the National People’s Congress of China promulgated the 9th Amendment to the Criminal Law. Included in the amendment are changes to the bribery-related provisions to expand the criminal fines applicable to individuals, to criminalize the act of giving bribes to "influential persons," and to restrict the availability of penalty exemption as leniency for bribe-givers. These changes are consistent with China's anti-corruption crackdown and bring China's statutory enforcement authority amongst the world's strictest.

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