Ban on diplomats with foreign spouses

Chinese diplomats married to foreigners will not be allowed to fulfill a major step in their diplomatic career - serving in embassies, a draft law has stipulated.

The restriction also applies to diplomats whose spouses hold long-term or permanent residency in other countries, according to the draft of China's first law on overseas diplomatic personnel.

China's top legislature, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), started the second reading on the matter yesterday during the bimonthly legislature session.