Beijing, Sept. 2 -- China has further tightened its control over the legal profession by formally making support for the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) a statutory qualification for lawyers, turning a requirement that had previously existed mainly under administrative regulations into national law, as reported by The Epoch Times.

According to The Epoch Times, the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress approved amendments to the Lawyers Law on August 28, with the changes taking effect from September 1.

The revised law requires lawyers to uphold China's Constitution, support CCP leadership and adhere to the country's socialist rule-of-law system.

The previous legislation required prospective lawyers to ...