China’s Top Legislature Proposes Sealing All Records of Minor Offenses
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China is advancing a landmark proposal to seal the records of minor public security violations for all individuals, a move that could remove significant barriers to education and employment for millions each year.
A third-reading draft of the revised Public Security Administration Punishments Law stipulates that records of such violations “shall be sealed” and not disclosed to any organization or individual. Exceptions would be made for national security agencies conducting investigations or for other authorized units making inquiries based on state regulations, according to state media agency Xinhua.
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- China is proposing to seal records of minor public security violations for all, potentially benefiting nearly 8 million people yearly by reducing barriers to education and employment.
- The draft law would prevent disclosure except for authorized cases, expanding protection beyond minors, but experts worry broad exceptions and lack of clear implementation.
- Concerns remain about loopholes, the conflict with transparency rules, and the absence of a provision for eventual deletion of sealed records.
- 2021：
- A revision to the Administrative Punishment Law led many local governments to begin publishing administrative penalty decisions online.
- 2024：
- The Communist Party’s Third Plenum issued a directive calling for the establishment of a system for sealing records of minor crimes.
- 2025：
- A third-reading draft of the revised Public Security Administration Punishments Law was presented to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee for deliberation, proposing the sealing of minor public security violation records for all individuals.
- As of 2025：
- Approximately 8 million people per year receive punishments for public security violations in China.
- CX Weekly Magazine
Jun. 27, 2025, Issue 24
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