FINANCE

China Issues New Asset-Freezing Rules Under Anti-Money Laundering Law

Published: Jan. 19, 2026 5:30 p.m. GMT+8

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China has issued strict new rules requiring financial institutions to immediately freeze the assets of terrorists and sanctioned entities, as the country faces heightened scrutiny from global anti-money-laundering watchdogs.

The People’s Bank of China and seven other government agencies on Friday published administrative measures detailing how financial institutions and certain nonfinancial institutions must implement targeted financial sanctions.

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China issued new rules requiring immediate asset freezes of terrorists and sanctioned entities, effective Feb. 16.
Financial and certain nonfinancial institutions must comply with targeted financial sanctions and establish internal controls.
The new measures align with international anti-money-laundering standards as China undergoes a FATF review through Feb. 2027.

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What Happened When

September 2025：: China released a draft of the new administrative measures regarding anti-money laundering and targeted financial sanctions.

November 2025：: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) began its fifth round of mutual evaluations of China.

Friday, January 19, 2026：: The People’s Bank of China and seven other agencies published the final administrative measures for implementing targeted financial sanctions.

AI generated, for reference only