Socialist Rule of Law in the 21th Century China

Abstract

The 18th Congress of Chinese Communist Party in 2012 and two important decisions adopted subsequently in the 3rd and 4th Plenum in 2013 and 2014 respectively, opened new prospects for China’s reform generally and the legal reform specifically. In commenting on Randall Peerenboom’s article, ‘Fly High the Banner of Socialist Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics! What Does the 4th Plenum Decision Mean for Legal Reforms in China?’, this commentary paper discusses the timing of the Decision adopted at the 4th Plenum and the reason why it was devoted to the issue of rule of law, the main features of the Decision, the general principles of the reform agenda, the significance as well as implications of the Decision for China’s legal reform, and the prospect of developing socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics in the 21th century China.