China Briefing | China’s extralegal detentions undermine Xi’s rule of law ambitions
- Promoting the rule of law is crucial to President Xi Jinping’s ambitions to build China into “a modern socialist country”
- But blatant attempts to stifle dissent from outspoken activists, lawyers, and academics show just how far China still has to go
Back in 2015, the Chinese government released an ambitious five-year plan with the overarching aim to basically achieve a law-based government administration by 2020, characterised by “scientifically-conceived functions, legally defined authority and responsibility, strict application of law, fairness and transparency, honesty and high efficiency, adhering to the law and strong credibility”.
Now that the year 2020 is coming to an end, the goal has apparently been pushed back to 2035 when “the goal of building a country, government, and society based upon the rule of law shall be basically achieved”, according to a landmark document released by the Chinese leadership after a key meeting in late October.
On Monday and Tuesday, Xi chaired what the state media called the first national conference on work related to overall law-based governance to discuss “the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics” and promised to promote the modernisation of China’s governance and capacity in line with the law. The importance of the meeting was underlined by the attendance of all seven members of the party’s Politburo Standing Committee, of which Xi is the General Secretary.
In his speech, Xi listed 11 requirements for strengthening the socialist rule of law, including party leadership; a people-centred approach; sticking to the socialist path; a law-based approach in handling economic and social issues: adherence to the constitution; coordinated progress in law-based governance, law-based exercise of power, and law-based government administration; sound lawmaking, strict law enforcement, impartial administration of justice, and observance of law by everyone; promoting rule of law at home and in matters involving overseas parties; a quality team of professionals; and an emphasis on senior officials to abide by the law.
