This course examines ten special topics in China's criminal justice system from an international and comparative perspective. It begins with an introductory overview, then explores the relationship between "Strike Hard" campaigns and mass-line justice. Subsequent sessions analyse policing and administrative punishment, the plea leniency system and its implications for procedural fairness, and the challenges facing defense lawyers. The course also addresses wrongful convictions, emerging crimes in the modern era, and China's growing role in extraterritorial law enforcement cooperation. Restorative justice with Chinese characteristics is examined alongside the highly debated issue of the death penalty. Through comparative analysis, students will assess how China's legal traditions, political structure, and reform efforts interact with international norms and practices such as those found in common law jurisdictions. The course seeks to foster intellectual independence by encouraging students to critically engage with course materials and develop the ability to transform complex legal issues into clear, debatable points from a cross-cultural perspective.

Exam (Duration: 2 hours)

A two-hour open book exam will assess students' capacity to describe, explain, and compare the objectives and functioning of the Chinese criminal justice system. It will also evaluate students ability to critically examine the policies, laws, and social factors that shape the system, and to propose solutions to some of its current problems.

Applicable to students admitted before Semester A 2022/23 and in Semester A 2024/25 & thereafter

Students must obtain a minimum mark of 40% in both coursework and the final examination and an overall mark of 40% in order to pass the course.

Applicable to students admitted from Semester A 2022/23 to Summer Term 2024

Students must obtain a minimum mark of 50% in both coursework and the final examination and an overall mark of 50% in order to pass the course.