China's top legislature started reading a draft national security law on Monday, which aims to be a "comprehensive, overall and fundamental piece of legislation" to safeguard state security.

The draft was tabled for a first reading during the bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), which runs from Monday to Sunday.

Director of the Commission for Legislative Affairs of the NPC Standing Committee, Li Shishi, told lawmakers that "it was necessary to make a [...] fundamental law on national security in accordance with the new contemporary environment."

The draft defines "national security" as a condition in which a country's government, sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity, the well-being of its people, the sustainable and healthy development of its economy and society, and other major interests are relatively safe and not subject to internal and external threats, as well as the capacity to safeguard the sustainability of such a secure condition.

The draft, aiming to "protect people's fundamental interests", stipulates that when having multiple choices in the management and handling of national security crisis, "measures that best protect the rights and interests of citizens and organizations should be chosen."

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