Chinese politics

Perspectives is UTS:ACRI's commentary series, featuring a piece on a topical subject in the Australia-China relationship from an invited expert contributor. 

By Colin Hawes

Despite major legal reforms over the past two decades, the legal system in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) remains very different from Australia. Businesses that trade or invest in the PRC need to be keenly aware of these differences in order to minimise the risks of legal disputes or becoming a target of the PRC government’s anti-corruption campaign. Australian businesses also require a basic understanding of dispute resolution options in the PRC – litigation versus arbitration or mediation – and what to expect when a business relationship in the PRC turns ugly.

Since the 1980s the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has undertaken gradual reform of its legal system, towards what President Xi Jinping has called ‘governing the country in accordance with the law’. Still, in a context where – as Xi has stated – ‘the [Communist] Party leads on everything’, observers note that ‘socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics’ means a ‘rule of law’ which differs significantly from the Australian application of the concept.

By Elena Collinson

Note: This article appeared in the Australian Institute of International Affairs’ blog, Australian Outlook, on July 25 2019.

By Simone van Nieuwenhuizen

Note: This article appeared in the Lowy Institute's blog, The Interpreter, on November 23 2018.

The Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI) at the University of Technology Sydney welcomed John Keane, Professor of Politics at the University of Sydney, to discuss his new book When trees fall, monkeys scatter (World Scientific, 2017) on August 27 2018.

By Simone van Nieuwenhuizen

Note: This article appeared in the University of Nottingham's China Policy Institute: Analysis on March 1 2018.

The Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI) at the University of Technology Sydney welcomed John Keane, Professor of Politics at the University of Sydney, to discuss his new book When trees fall, monkeys scatter (World Scientific, 2017).

In the global China debate, When trees fall, monkeys scatter is a strong critique of the orthodox view that the People's Republic of China (PRC) is an 'authoritarian' system and an unusual reflection on what lies ahead for the PRC. What are the implications of Professor Keane's analysis for the Australia-China relationship?

By Simone van Nieuwenhuizen

Note: This article appeared in the Lowy Institute for International Policy's blog, The Interpreter, on October 27 2017.

Note: This is a summary of 'Human Rights in China', Between the Lines, ABC Radio National, July 27 2017.

In light of the death of Nobel laureate and Chinese political dissident Liu Xiaobo, how can the West help promote human rights in China?