China to revise military facilities protection law

China plans to revise the law on the protection of military facilities and is soliciting public opinions on a draft amendment. The draft forbids the construction and installation of equipment and obstacles that could influence the effective use of military fixed wireless apparatus. Activities that could affect the electromagnetic environment of military wireless facilities are not allowed. The draft, issued by the Legal Affairs Office of the State Council, also makes clarifications on military forbidden zones, military administrative zones as well as security control areas beyond forbidden zones. Unauthorized entry into land and water military forbidden zones by personnel, vehicles and vessels other than those belonging to units in charge of the zones shall be prohibited. Photograph, video-taping, recording, reconnoitering, surveying, drawing or descriptions of the forbidden zones are not allowed, either, unless with military approval, according to the draft. The draft also prohibits flying low over forbidden zones. Those disturbing the management order of military zones will be held criminally responsible in serious offences, the draft said. The current law went into effect on August 1, 1990.