China promises crackdown on subversion, separatism

China on Monday vowed to "severely crack down on the infiltration, sabotage, subversion, and separatist activities of hostile forces at home and abroad" during a special panel for top law officials attended by Communist Party chief Xi Jinping.

At Monday's plenary meeting, Zhou Qiang, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of China, said China will severely punish crimes such as subverting state power and inciting secession.

He gave a speech tying together pandemic prevention protocols with national security.

The weeklong meeting of the National People's Congress, which rubber stamps policies approved by the Communist Party leadership, provides a window into government priorities.

The annual session, which has been reduced from two weeks to one because of the pandemic, finishes on Thursday.