The lawsuit filed in Shanxi by the families of 18 women forced into sexual slavery by the imperial Japanese army is the first such challenge in a Chinese court and marks a critical moment in the movement. Success will depend on domestic and international support
China finds itself in need of its latest landmark reform as the urban-rural divide keeps growing and the broader economy is seeking new sources of growth. One possible solution is finding better uses for rural land and giving farmers the same legal rights as urban residents to rent, transfer or mortgage their land.