Key practical points:
• The general rule is that a foreign state and its property enjoy immunity from Chinese courts' jurisdiction, subject to specific exceptions.
• A key exception is commercial activity of the foreign state within China or with effect in China.
• Other exceptions include employment disputes, personal injury or property damage in China, and express waiver of immunity.
• Immunity from enforcement over a foreign state's property is broader than jurisdictional immunity, with separate conditions for attachment and execution.
• The law does not apply to sovereign acts (such as military actions), and diplomatic missions keep their immunities under conventions.
• China may apply reciprocity if other states grant China narrower immunity.
⚖️ Dispute resolution
Foreign State Immunity Law · Yalla China
中华人民共和国外国国家豁免法 / Foreign State Immunity Law of the People's Republic of China
Enacted: 2023-09-01 ✅ Effective: 2024-01-01
📝 Overview
A law defining when foreign states enjoy immunity from Chinese courts' jurisdiction and when they may be sued. It moves China from absolute to restrictive immunity, aligning with international practice.
This is general information only, not legal advice. For your specific case, consult a licensed lawyer.
📜 The law text / key provisions
💬 Practical reading
💬 This is a general reading/opinion for orientation — not the official legal text nor legal advice.
If you have a commercial dispute with a foreign-state-owned entity, this law may allow suing it in Chinese courts over commercial activity. But enforcing judgments against state property is much harder. This is general orientation, not legal advice.
📎 Official source
npc.gov.cn
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026