Chinese legislature approves end of “one child” policy

China has passed a controversial new anti-terrorism law that critics say will legitimize and worsen the persecution of dissidents and religious minorities.

There was no immediate comment Sunday on the legislation from the White House, which had also voiced concerns that the Chinese legislation could imperil an array of human rights principles enshrined in Western law.

Under the new bill, telecom operators and internet service providers in China are required to provide technical support and assistance, including decryption, to police and national security authorities to aid “in prevention and investigation of terrorist activities”. When asked at a news conference if the law covered abuse issues relating to gay couples, parliament standing committee’s Legislative Affair Commission member Guo Linmao said that the law has been formulated to cover only certain issues discovered.

China’s first- law has taken a long time to pass and against domestic violence does not cover some possible casualties, campaigners said after it had been approved in the weekend.

Chinese lawmakers on Sunday adopted a basket of laws and law amendments, including one on fighting terrorism and another to allow all couples to have two children.

“This new law sees us make some progress, but in a slow way”, said Liu Bohong, a senior researcher with the Women’s Studies Institute of China.

It obliges when a report of maltreatment is submitted authorities to step in promptly, it reported.

Experts say that the shift to a two child policy is likely too little, too late to address China’s looming population crisis and that the government is unlikely to dismantle enforcement mechanisms for reproductive control due to deeply entrenched bureaucratic interests.

While the new law dropped requirements in earlier drafts for technology companies to submit encryption codes and other sensitive data for pre-vetting, it indicates that firms will have to hand over that material if requested. There is also a provision, as reported by Reuters, that “media and social media can not report on details of terror activities that might lead to imitation, nor show scenes that are “cruel and inhuman” “- something else which will bring about accusation of standing in the way of free speech.

“Relevant regulations in the anti-terrorism law will not affect the normal business operation of companies, and we do not use the law to set up “backdoors” to violate the intellectual property rights of companies… Terrorism is the public enemy of mankind, and the Chinese government will oppose all forms of terrorism”, An said.