China passes national-security law

(ANSA) - Rome, July 1 - China's legislature on Wednesday passed a wide-ranging and controversial national-security law which tightens government control over many areas of life.
    The law broadly defines national security as covering everything from finance and cyber security to religion.
    State media said it would "protect people's fundamental interests".
    It is part of a raft of policies by President Xi Jinping that have drawn criticism from foreign governments, businesses and rights groups.
    The vaguely worded legislation authorises the government to take "all necessary" steps to protect China's sovereignty.
    Included in the law, passed by the standing committee of the rubberstamp National People's Congress, is a move to make key network infrastructure and information systems "secure and controllable".