Beijing [China], Oct 31: China is taking into consideration a law consenting prison sentence of up to three years for disrespecting the national anthem, reported China's news agency Xinhua.

A draft amendment to the nation's Criminal Law was submitted for reflection at a session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee on Tuesday.

Xinhua asserted Wang Chaoying, deputy head of the NPC Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission, as saying, "As the criminal law specify penalties for offences to national flag and national emblem, violations regarding national anthem should also be integrated with the passing of the new law."

This comes at a time when in India, the Supreme Court has implied at amending its last year order that made it mandatory for cinema halls to play National Anthem before screening of films.

The move has since paying attention on controversy, with arguments both for and against this move.

China's national anthem "March of the Volunteers" encouraged the nation's people during the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

It was chosen as the national anthem in 1949.