The Facts
According to Xinhua news agency, China's parliament on Friday approved changes to its Legislation Law, which dictates how laws are enacted, that will allow emergency legislation to be passed after a single review session.
The change occurred during the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. NPC deputies also approved the national economic and social development plan for 2023 and the central budget for 2023.
The Spin
Pro-China narrative
This amendment will help ensure that the drafting and updating of laws will bring PRC governance into the modern, coherent, and forward-looking 21st century. Rather than abide by the wishes of lobbyists as is the case in other countries, it will increase parliament's efficiency and capacity to strengthen moral and ethical standards in China. Laws exist to serve the people, and the decision to streamline this process makes compelling sense.
Anti-China narrative
Pres. Xi Jinping is a merciless man who has ruthlessly cracked down on civil society, academic freedom, and human rights in China. Parliament is only a rubber-stamping process and its legitimacy and competency cannot be taken seriously. While the leader of China and its Communist Party continues to make many problems for his country across the world, Xi has further cemented his illegitimate authority over the domestic legislative process.
